[offroadnt]

I read on here somewhere that that there is an oat variety especially for use as greenfeed and for the life of me I can't find that thread. We use seed oats as a cover for alfalfa, it yields wonderfully and the alfalfa stand is absolutely perfect but boy what a mess to cut and bale and feed, the cows don't like the straw that much either.

Somebody stated they used a "Baler" or "Baler Feed" variety of oats? Better to work with and the straw is much more palatable? I asked what variety or number it was and proceeded to loose track of the thread...

Thanks.

 

[Dan Vanderwell]

Hi offroad.

Maybe CDC Baler? Never grown them myself.
CDC Baler | FP Genetics

I've had good luck with Murphy. Lots of leaf. Decent standability too.
https://www.secan.com/en/data/files/_workspace/secan_searchvalues/O022/AC Murphy Dec 2011 Oat.pdf

 

[oldred460]

oats

The thread I think is in the Haying forum.

I don't know the numbers but as stated they are

CDC Baler & CDC Haymaker.

FWIW Mark

 

[offroadnt]

Thanks guys, that was what I was looking for. Does it stand better then regular seed oats? We windup with it down and tangled so bad you can't walk through it. Last year the only way we could get through some of it was with the diskbine.

I wonder what it would be like to mix with peas? Probably increase feed value a bit more.

 

[cyclone eddie]

If you don't have any luck , I just use seed oats @ 1.5 to 2 bu. a ac. then if ground cond. and weather is right cut early usually makes 3500 lbs of great feed . but if things don't go right I wait and make oat hay , But You'r right the cows don't always like the straw, but they do well on the bales for the mess it is . Just my opion though

 

[Dan Vanderwell]

Thanks guys, that was what I was looking for. Does it stand better then regular seed oats? We windup with it down and tangled so bad you can't walk through it. Last year the only way we could get through some of it was with the diskbine.

I wonder what it would be like to mix with peas? Probably increase feed value a bit more.

Depends what variety you're comparing to. Murphy will stand better than Derby but it sure isn't no Morgan.

If you're having trouble with it going flat I wouldn't recommend 40-10 peas or the like. It will drag down the oats. The upside I've found is the peas seem to keep the crop mat from going right tight to the ground. Keeps it 4-6" thick instead of 1-2" thick. Not very good for little alfalfa seedlings either way in my mind. Does make nice feed. Just a little harder to dry down if you're baling it dry.

What about some sweet clover to help with standability? Makes decent feed if taken early enough.

 

[snapper21]

Here guys throw oats in with the cowboy barley to hold it up in the swath for grazing. Kinda funny cause oats typically are the ones that fall. Morgan oats really stand well and yield milling quality oats. I have thought about going to the feed or forage varieties but if you combine anything a milling variety gives you an option if you have lots of feed.

Funny thing with oats for forage is the palatability varies year to year. On a drier year the cows clean it up better than a wet year typically but I have seen the opposite too. Another thing oats have a better water use efficiency than barley and can make fuller use of the growing season. Ie later season rains will increase yield more so than with barley.

 

[hog987]

Thanks guys, that was what I was looking for. Does it stand better then regular seed oats? We windup with it down and tangled so bad you can't walk through it. Last year the only way we could get through some of it was with the diskbine.

I wonder what it would be like to mix with peas? Probably increase feed value a bit more.

The baler oats I grew in the low land last year was just under 6 feet tall and no problems lodging.

 

[offroadnt]

The baler oats I grew in the low land last year was just under 6 feet tall and no problems lodging.

That's pretty impressive, the varieties we've been growing go to about four feet then lay down to form about a six inch mat, it's impossible to walk through and very difficult to cut.