
%0 Journal Article
%A Margan, DE 
%A Graham, NM 
%A Searle, TW 
%T The energy value of whole oats grain in adult wether sheep
%J Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
%D 1987/04/01
%V 27
%N 2
%P 223-230
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9870223
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/EA9870223 
%X Samples of Cooba and Coolabah oats were chosen on chemical analysis to represent relatively high and low quality grain. Each was evaluated by measuring energy, nitrogen and carbon balances in 4 adult sheep at several levels of feeding and during starvation. The Cooba contained, on a dry matter (DM) basis, 14% crude protein (CP), 23% cell wall constituents (CWC) and 19.1 MJ/kg gross energy (GE); the Coolabah had 10% CP, 31% CWC and 19.6 MJ/kg. With ad libitum feeding, respective DM intakes were 1.4 and 1.8 kg/day (3.3 and 4.4 times maintenance) giving daily retentions of 6.6 and 8.2 MJ and 6.2 and 8.0 g nitrogen. The availabilities of the gross energy of the Cooba at maintenance were 85% digestible energy (DE), 71% metabolisable energy (ME) (13.6 MJ/kg DM), 59% net energy (NE); when assessed as a production supplement, the values were 79,74 and 38% respectively. The results for Coolabah were 76% DE, 68% ME (1 3.3 MJ/ kg), 53% NE (maintenance); 64% DE, 6 1% ME, 36% NE (production supplement). It is apparent from the present and previously published results that the GE and ME/DE values of oats are higher than commonly supposed. Furthermore, although protein and fibre content indicate the relative digestibilities of feeds, they are not a good guide to relative NE values nor to attainable production in terms of either energy or protein. 
