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  Bye-Bye Jiggle
Posts: 1691
   
Location: Where ever there's sunshine! | What is your purpose for feeding them? What is their nutritional breakdown? |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Starch for energy and a few extra calories.
I feed 1 lb morning and evening whole oats if somebody isn't maintaining on alfalfa and rice bran. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | 2-4 lbs/day of Whole oats:
1. Energy dense calories from highly digestible starch (helps restore glycogen levels in anaerobic exercise like barrel racing). Oats have the highest starch digestibility of any grain.
2. Good natural fat source (5%)
3. Highest fiber grain source
4. Moderate levels of protein and highest grain protein (10-12%)
5. High chew factor for concentrate and promotes saliva production
6. Very palatable
7. Most nutrient dense grain source with the following make up:
Edited by Tdove 2016-08-21 8:38 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| Oats used to be what all race horse trainer's fed. They have all moved on to more modern, balanced feeds. Part of the reason that they may not be as popular is because most oats are now imported. I assume from Canada. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 863
| I just started feeding rolled oats, they look like oatmeal. I mix with renew gold, but now I'm really hoping they won't be a cause to ulcers, I hear they are very high in starch, and I've been told low starch diet for ulcer prone horses..  |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| streakysox - 2016-08-21 9:37 PM
Oats used to be what all race horse trainer's fed. They have all moved on to more modern, balanced feeds. Part of the reason that they may not be as popular is because most oats are now imported. I assume from Canada.
The Dakotas are where ours come from via the local coop here in Iowa most of the the time. We will probably have mostly local oats in our next load which will be a little lighter test weight.
Oats are a cool season crop making good quality hard to find much farther south than the Dakotas. Some of my customers who are starting to grow a few here and here for their own feed needs (cattle usually) can get test weight in the mid to high 30's if the are going to take them to town and really turn the blower up on the combine. They usually don't worry about getting them too clean if they're feeding them at home. The coop will get a test weight in the mid to upper 40's on the ones they bring in from up north.
We feed between 2 and 4lbs/day depending on the horse. We've got them out on pasture now so we are starting to cut everyone back as well.
Everyone looks awesome and has great energy. They aren't hot, but have plenty of work in them. |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I love my whole oats. My horses do too. It is a very small part of the ration I feed and used mainly as an energy source and a mixer for my Cur-ost. The staple of my feeding program is the forage. I feed strictly alfalfa and everyone is in the pasture, which this time of year is pretty much nothing. I feed a flake of alfalfa morning and night and a 1/2 - 3/4 scoop of oats once daily with a cup of BOSS and my Cur-ost Total Support. Will bump the oats up to twice daily if I need a bit more energy production from my horse, but so far that hasn't been an issue.
The key with any grain is to feed as little as possible. I prefer whole grains for my horses, as i'm a firm believer that processed and synthetic feeds are huge contributors to inflammatory conditions for our horses, no differently than processed food is bad for us and contributes to many, many health problems, all beginning in the gut. To have the best program for your horse, in my opinion, you need to feed the best quality forage you can get your hands on. For me, that is alfalfa, as our grass hay in Texas is pretty crappy for the most part. Secondary should be grains, but even then, I truly believe that if we choose whole food sources over processed feeds, we're way ahead of the game. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Herbie - 2016-08-22 8:24 AM I love my whole oats. My horses do too. It is a very small part of the ration I feed and used mainly as an energy source and a mixer for my Cur-ost. The staple of my feeding program is the forage. I feed strictly alfalfa and everyone is in the pasture, which this time of year is pretty much nothing. I feed a flake of alfalfa morning and night and a 1/2 - 3/4 scoop of oats once daily with a cup of BOSS and my Cur-ost Total Support. Will bump the oats up to twice daily if I need a bit more energy production from my horse, but so far that hasn't been an issue.
The key with any grain is to feed as little as possible. I prefer whole grains for my horses, as i'm a firm believer that processed and synthetic feeds are huge contributors to inflammatory conditions for our horses, no differently than processed food is bad for us and contributes to many, many health problems, all beginning in the gut. To have the best program for your horse, in my opinion, you need to feed the best quality forage you can get your hands on. For me, that is alfalfa, as our grass hay in Texas is pretty crappy for the most part. Secondary should be grains, but even then, I truly believe that if we choose whole food sources over processed feeds, we're way ahead of the game.
^ me as well |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Whole Oats are more nutritional.. the more processed(rolled) etc the less Nutrients.. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| Bibliafarm - 2016-08-22 9:17 PM
Whole Oats are more nutritional.. the more processed(rolled) etc the less Nutrients..
We do not digest cellulose. Horses do not either. If you notice when you eat corn that it makes it through the digestive track pretty much in tact? The outer covering is cellulose. The same is true of oats. But if the oats are crimped you break open that outer cellulose cover allowing theoats to be digested. Same is true of steamed rolled oats. Look in horse's poop if they are on a steady diet of whole oats there will be a bunch of whole oats in the poop. That basically is money wasted. I was just watching a vet on RFD talking about the lack of nutrients in oats and that they must be supplemented. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | I feed whole oats with my regimen. NONE of my horses pass whole oats in their poop. My horses look and seem to feel better then they did on processed feeds. |
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Bye-Bye Jiggle
Posts: 1691
Location: Where ever there's sunshine! | Wild1 - 2016-08-21 10:12 PM
I just started feeding rolled oats, they look like oatmeal. I mix with renew gold, but now I'm really hoping they won't be a cause to ulcers, I hear they are very high in starch, and I've been told low starch diet for ulcer prone horses..
My guy is n RG and alfalfa pellets. I need to fatten him up and was told to try oats |
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| Tdove - 2016-08-21 5:08 PM
2-4 lbs/day of Whole oats:
1. Energy dense calories from highly digestible starch (helps restore glycogen levels in anaerobic exercise like barrel racing). Oats have the highest starch digestibility of any grain.
2. Good natural fat source (5%)
3. Highest fiber grain source
4. Moderate levels of protein and highest grain protein (10-12%)
5. High chew factor for concentrate and promotes saliva production
6. Very palatable
7. Most nutrient dense grain source with the following make up:
EXCELLENT PRESENTATION !!!
Now add you one block of alfalfa with the whole oats and you have the perfect horse feed ...
add another block of alfalfa daily if horse is in competition ... the proteins are slower to turn
into sucrose energy and will enhance the energy the horse has on the run for home ...
and good quality hay ..
I suggest .. a good worming program and adding a handful of loose ADM GROSTRONG MINERALS
every other day directly to their feed (5o#'s ~$40) along with access to a standard $5 mineral block 24/7 for the salt content ...
Look at your ingredient list on hour high dollar feeds ... when you can't pronounce it or spell it ..
you know it is some waste product from human food processing or ethanol production ...
never use beet pulp ... makes body contain water and look fat and is loaded with heavy metals ..
You will never regret feeding this simple feed program to all of your horses ... at a much lower cost ..
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| BleuIdGrl - 2016-08-22 11:51 PM
Wild1 - 2016-08-21 10:12 PM
I just started feeding rolled oats, they look like oatmeal. I mix with renew gold, but now I'm really hoping they won't be a cause to ulcers, I hear they are very high in starch, and I've been told low starch diet for ulcer prone horses..
My guy is n RG and alfalfa pellets. I need to fatten him up and was told to try oats
Add rice bran before you add oats if you are looking to add fat. |
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | lindseylou2290 - 2016-08-24 8:56 AM
BleuIdGrl - 2016-08-22 11:51 PM
Wild1 - 2016-08-21 10:12 PM
I just started feeding rolled oats, they look like oatmeal. I mix with renew gold, but now I'm really hoping they won't be a cause to ulcers, I hear they are very high in starch, and I've been told low starch diet for ulcer prone horses..
My guy is n RG and alfalfa pellets. I need to fatten him up and was told to try oats
Add rice bran before you add oats if you are looking to add fat.
This.. If you add rice bran, be sure that it is stabilized.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | lindseylou2290 - 2016-08-24 7:56 AM
BleuIdGrl - 2016-08-22 11:51 PM
Wild1 - 2016-08-21 10:12 PM
I just started feeding rolled oats, they look like oatmeal. I mix with renew gold, but now I'm really hoping they won't be a cause to ulcers, I hear they are very high in starch, and I've been told low starch diet for ulcer prone horses..
My guy is n RG and alfalfa pellets. I need to fatten him up and was told to try oats
Add rice bran before you add oats if you are looking to add fat.
Why would you add rice bran when the Renew Gold has rice bran in it? |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | streakysox - 2016-08-22 11:42 PM Bibliafarm - 2016-08-22 9:17 PM Whole Oats are more nutritional.. the more processed(rolled) etc the less Nutrients.. We do not digest cellulose. Horses do not either. If you notice when you eat corn that it makes it through the digestive track pretty much in tact? The outer covering is cellulose. The same is true of oats. But if the oats are crimped you break open that outer cellulose cover allowing theoats to be digested. Same is true of steamed rolled oats. Look in horse's poop if they are on a steady diet of whole oats there will be a bunch of whole oats in the poop. That basically is money wasted. I was just watching a vet on RFD talking about the lack of nutrients in oats and that they must be supplemented.
Edited by Bibliafarm 2016-08-24 7:38 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | Herbie - 2016-08-22 8:24 AM I love my whole oats. My horses do too. It is a very small part of the ration I feed and used mainly as an energy source and a mixer for my Cur-ost. The staple of my feeding program is the forage. I feed strictly alfalfa and everyone is in the pasture, which this time of year is pretty much nothing. I feed a flake of alfalfa morning and night and a 1/2 - 3/4 scoop of oats once daily with a cup of BOSS and my Cur-ost Total Support. Will bump the oats up to twice daily if I need a bit more energy production from my horse, but so far that hasn't been an issue.
The key with any grain is to feed as little as possible. I prefer whole grains for my horses, as i'm a firm believer that processed and synthetic feeds are huge contributors to inflammatory conditions for our horses, no differently than processed food is bad for us and contributes to many, many health problems, all beginning in the gut. To have the best program for your horse, in my opinion, you need to feed the best quality forage you can get your hands on. For me, that is alfalfa, as our grass hay in Texas is pretty crappy for the most part. Secondary should be grains, but even then, I truly believe that if we choose whole food sources over processed feeds, we're way ahead of the game.
Not to sound stupid, but are there specific horse quality BOSS or can you just use the bird seed BOSS and feed those? |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Bibliafarm - 2016-08-24 7:36 PM
streakysox - 2016-08-22 11:42 PM Bibliafarm - 2016-08-22 9:17 PM Whole Oats are more nutritional.. the more processed(rolled) etc the less Nutrients.. We do not digest cellulose. Horses do not either. If you notice when you eat corn that it makes it through the digestive track pretty much in tact? The outer covering is cellulose. The same is true of oats. But if the oats are crimped you break open that outer cellulose cover allowing theoats to be digested. Same is true of steamed rolled oats. Look in horse's poop if they are on a steady diet of whole oats there will be a bunch of whole oats in the poop. That basically is money wasted. I was just watching a vet on RFD talking about the lack of nutrients in oats and that they must be supplemented.
Sometimes.
I have 1 slow eater that I almost never see anything whole in his poo. He takes his time and chew thoroughly.
The other 3 for the most part inhale whatever is put in front of them. All 3 will have some whole oats left in their poo, not 100% of what they are eating but I have slapped on a rubber glove and gone exploring - they are whole oats. I believe it is because they are likely not chewing well enough. Teeth are all up to date, they just eat faster.
We went with whole oats for economics. We have a bulk bin we fill very very affordably. Steamed/Crimped/Rolled are twice+ as expensive around here as the whole and on par with commercially bagged feeds, plus since we'd have to buy them bagged at the chain store I don't know where they are coming from vs whole from the coop they can tell me where they are sourcing them from.
I've wondered if we found a small hand mill at a farm sale if it would work on oats or if would only work on something bigger like corn. If we found one cheap enough I'd be interested in trying that so we could run a 5 gallon bucket through at a time. |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I just buy the 40 pound sack that is labeled as bird seed at Atwoods. Just be sure it's BOSS and not mixed seed.
In regard to others posts on oats in the manure, the two horses who get whole oats at my place do not have any oats in the manure. They did when I first began feeding whole oats but don't anymore. I attribute that to allowing the digestive tract time to "heal" so to speak as the contributors are removed that have been affecting digestion. If the digestive tract hasn't been functioning properly, then it's not going to be fixed over night. If you're seeing whole oats in the manure, there is a good chance that if you analyzed that manure even prior to changing to oats you would also see that the feed you were feeding prior was not being utlized to it's full potential either. The difference being that a pellet or other sweet feed breaks down to a mush with added moisture and is brown in color. It wouldn't be easily identifiable in manure to the naked eye, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. A fecal test would need to be done to see how much undigested food particles are in the manure to determine what is truly being digested and utlized. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Oats are digested well, generally. Nothing is digested 100%, it is not supposed to be. Digestibility, cost, and nutrition are almost an economics table or formula. You can get very high digestibility, but doing so often leads to higher incremental cost and lost organic nutrients. This is exactly what happens to oats, the gain in digestibility is less than the comparative cost to do so. Furthermore, shelf life and nutrient quality and density is significantly reduced. Processing oats, increases their already high digestibilty by an average of 7%. The cost of processing is about double that. So feeding processed oats is more expensive than whole. Plus, the processed oat oxidizes and looses natural fats, vitamins, and minerals. This is why highly digestible whole food ingredients are superior to processed feeds. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Tdove - 2016-08-21 5:08 PM 2-4 lbs/day of Whole oats: 1. Energy dense calories from highly digestible starch (helps restore glycogen levels in anaerobic exercise like barrel racing). Oats have the highest starch digestibility of any grain. 2. Good natural fat source (5%) 3. Highest fiber grain source 4. Moderate levels of protein and highest grain protein (10-12%) 5. High chew factor for concentrate and promotes saliva production 6. Very palatable 7. Most nutrient dense grain source with the following make up:
What he said. I always thought oats were just a filler, until I did some unbiased research and found out they are actually a FANTASTIC element to most feed programs. Even though they are somewhat high in starch, they are significantly lower than barley and corn, and the starch is far more digestible. I fed even my extremely hot/spooky barrel horse oats and they didn't do anything to make him crazy. I'm down to one horse and he is more than fat enough on pasture alone, but if I ever do need to feed grain again, quality whole oats will definitely be part of my program. |
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Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| You know what I like best about feeding whole oats?
When you spill some and they get wet, they sprout and try to grow grass.
Oats are grass seeds.
Horses naturally eat....grass.
Seems a no brainer straight from the "keep it simple, stupid." law. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 133
| I haven't fed just straight oats outside of a complete feed ($28 a bag) in a couple of years but was glad to run across this thread cuz I think I will feed oats again. I usually mix with beet pulp and rice bran (stabilized) It reminded me of some research I had done a few years back -- I was looking at a nitric oxide product for horses and looked to see what the main ingredient was (L-Arginine) and then researched food sources of L-Arginine and up popped oats as one of the highest sources of L-Arginine! See the links below. Buying oats is a lot less expensive than buying the N.O. product if you can't afford it right now or maybe you can decide to just feed oats instead?
Nitric Oxide is said to (I quote): "Now that we know what it is, we can begin to focus on the benefits of nitric oxide to horses:
• Increased blood flow
• More efficient delivery of other nutrients to all of the body’s systems
• Assists the body in tendon repair, ligament injuries, muscle strains, ulcer prevention, and more.
• Helps to reduce inflammation
• Improves recovery from training and competition." and
"The body requires the proper amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to synthesize a compound called Nitric Oxide. This very important signaling molecule is a powerful antioxidant. It widens blood vessels improving flow to the tissues, organs and muscles."
Sources: https://michaellustgarten.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/which-grain-is-the-best-source-for-protein-essential-amino-acids-bcaa-and-arginine/ and http://www.totalhealthenhance.com/products/!/NitrOxide/p/59387391/category
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Wanted to come back and say I was picking stalls this morning at the barrel race and saw significantly fewer oats in the poo of one of my fast eaters than I did a month ago 
Herbie must be onto something :)
I may also have a problem because I enjoy getting to clean individual stalls and evaluate the gut health of my kids. All 4 are lotted together at home so unless you see them poo it's anyone's guess who has the issue. |
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