Whole oats to calves

[J 1177]

Does it make any difference to feeding whole oats vs rolled/nipped oats for calves or stirks?
Im on trying whole (being lazy) and it just looks sort of wrong in the troughs? Whats peoples opinions?

 

[milkloss]

Does it make any difference to feeding whole oats vs rolled/nipped oats for calves or stirks?
Im on trying whole (being lazy) and it just looks sort of wrong in the troughs? Whats peoples opinions?

apparently the cost of rolling is more than the lost grain you see in their dung. Have fed ours whole oats all winter and they do fine. Tried giving them a little more protein this year and they look better for it but £££.

 

[serf]

We been mixing whole oats with a few brewers grains day or so before feeding
makes them softer seems to be less coming thru them than just 'off the heap' not sure if this is the thing to do , trial and error
This is 10month old stirks
When you look at how much oats they eat and whats on the floor it seems miniscule.

 

[Sheeps]

A bit off topic but I'm feeding a few stirks here and they are very loose. They are getting 1kg of 16% and good silage if I changed to oats would it dry them up? Or would I need to put them on hay

 

[milkloss]

I don't think oats would dry them up if their guts are running fast already. Like you say, a bit of hay might be the answer.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Never bothered rolling oats.
Pita to roll

 

[deleted user 837354]

Apparently whole oats are good for the development of the digestive system in calves I seem to remember was the claim?

 

[milkloss]

Apparently whole oats are good for the development of the digestive system in calves I seem to remember was the claim?

Yes, missed the boat for that job at 10months though.