University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Fall Oats an Alternate Forage Option Dr. Mike Hutjens Dairy Extension SpecialistDr. Mike Hutjens Dairy Extension Specialist University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Jim Baltz Instructional Design Specialist

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Learn Objective The growing and feeding of a fall cereal grain can be a viable forage resourceThe growing and feeding of a fall cereal grain can be a viable forage resource With drought concerns in 2012,. fall oats can be an emergeny forage crop of dairy cattle.With drought concerns in 2012,. fall oats can be an emergeny forage crop of dairy cattle. Guideline on growing and harvesting oat silage will be presented.Guideline on growing and harvesting oat silage will be presented.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign We still have time, but make the your decision now!

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Fall Oat Forage Selection Maturity rating is importantMaturity rating is important –Early-season –Mid-season –Late-season

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign When to Plant Fall Oats? Mid to Late JulyMid to Late July –Use forage-type cultivar (such as ForagePlus Oats) Late Planting: Beyond 1 st week of AugustLate Planting: Beyond 1 st week of August –Consider using earlier-maturing, grain-type cultivars

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Key Factor To Consider Be aware of the potential for herbicide carryoverBe aware of the potential for herbicide carryover Availability of oat seedAvailability of oat seed Rain and soil moisture statusRain and soil moisture status Early freeze vs. an adequate growing periodEarly freeze vs. an adequate growing period

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Average Illinois Precipitation in Inches

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois Weather Median Date of 28°F Freeze Based on Averages Oct 1 to 10 Oct 11 to 20 Oct 21 to 31 Nov 1 to 10

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Late Planted Oats: 12 August Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team Yields of DM for four oat cultivars planted on about 12 August; data represent 2-year means from a study conducted at Prairie du Sac, WI (Coblentz and Walgenbach, 2010).

Yields of four oat cultivars planted on July 15 and August 1 Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team Data represent 3-year means from a study conducted at Marshfield, WI (Coblentz et al., 2011). Dane, Ogle, and Vista are grain-type cultivars that have early, mid, and late maturity ratings, respectively. ForagePlus is a forage-type cultivar that matures more slowly than Vista.

Oats vs Wheat Yield comparisons of (2) winter wheat and (4) oat cultivars across three harvest dates during at Prairie du Sac, WI (Coblentz and Walgenbach, 2010). Cultivars were established on 11 August 2006 and 13 August Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

Standing DM Concentrations Standing DM concentrations for fall-grown oat forages harvested on 5 dates throughout the fall at Marshfield, WI (Coblentz et al., 2011). All forages were planted on August 1, and means represent 3-year averages. The red horizontal line () represents the minimum concentration of DM for satisfactory silage fermentation (30%). Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Cultivars, Planting Dates, and Expected Yields by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

Concentrations of NDF from oat forages planted on August 1 and harvested on five dates throughout the fall at Marshfield, WI (Coblentz et al., 2012). Fall-Grown Oat Forages: Unique Quality Characteristics by Wayne Coblentz and Mike Bertram, University of Wisconsin Forage Team

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Fiber composition of selected cereal-grain forages (NRC, 2001) ForageNDFADFLigninLignin (Headed) % of DM % of NDF Oat silage Barley silage Triticale silage Wheat silage

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Nutrient Comparison (NRC, 2001) %DM%CP%ADF%TDN %DM%CP%ADF%TDN Corn Silage Oatlage Haylage Oat Hay Hay

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Take Home Messages Seed 3 bushels per acre in a good seed bedSeed 3 bushels per acre in a good seed bed Plant a grain type, early season oat in mid AugustPlant a grain type, early season oat in mid August Harvest in the boot stageHarvest in the boot stage 2 to 3 tons of dry matter per acre with high levels of sugar possible2 to 3 tons of dry matter per acre with high levels of sugar possible Wilting of the silage may be needed (>30% DM)Wilting of the silage may be needed (>30% DM) Add an inoculant to improve fermentationAdd an inoculant to improve fermentation

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Check out our online dairy courses at and Illini DairyNET at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dr. Mike Hutjens Dairy Extension Specialist Jim Baltz Instructional Design Specialist