- Apr 4, 2011
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I often see the recommendation to cut the amount of protein in a diet with oats. Here's a little table I worked up showing how adding oats affects the quality of the diet. Remember that the ME controls the amount of food eaten (that's why diets are formulated to the given energy levels), higher ME levels require higher protein levels to meet amino acid requirements.
Feed kcal/kg % protein % ARG % ISOL % LEU % LYS % METH % M+CYS % TRY % VAL MG Niacin
Recommended 2900 22 1.1 0.63 1.26 0.9 0.4 0.7 0.23 0.78 55
oatmeal 3120 16 0.9 0.55 1 0.54 0.2 0.44 0.2 0.75 13
whole oats 2550 11.4 0.79 0.52 0.89 0.5 0.18 0.4 0.16 0.68 12
wheat (hard red) 2900 14.1 0.6 0.44 0.89 0.37 0.21 0.51 0.16 0.57 48
Mixed 75:25oatmeal 2955 20.5 1.05 0.61 1.195 0.81 0.35 0.635 0.2225 0.7725 44.5
Mixed 60:40oatmeal 2988 19.6 1.02 0.598 1.156 0.756 0.32 0.596 0.218 0.768 38.2
mixed 75:25oats 2812.5 19.35 1.0225 0.6025 1.1675 0.8 0.345 0.625 0.2125 0.755 44.25
Mixed 65:35oats 2777.5 18.29 0.9915 0.5915 1.1305 0.76 0.323 0.595 0.2055 0.745 39.95
mixed 55:45oats 2742.5 17.23 0.9605 0.5805 1.0935 0.72 0.301 0.565 0.1985 0.735 35.65
mixed 75:25wheat 2900 20.025 0.975 0.5825 1.1675 0.7675 0.3525 0.6525 0.2125 0.7275 53.25
This table used the recommended diet (NRC 1994) mixed with oats, oatmeal, and wheat. Notice the drop in niacin. If mixing, it's probably better to mix oatmeal, rather than whole oats, but there isn't much of a protein reduction (although the drop in methionine + cycteine is of concern) and little change in ME. That's why I do not recommend mixing and matching feeds to "lower" protein because it alters the balance, making it difficult to know what the bird is actually getting, and does it meet their needs.
Clint
Feed kcal/kg % protein % ARG % ISOL % LEU % LYS % METH % M+CYS % TRY % VAL MG Niacin
Recommended 2900 22 1.1 0.63 1.26 0.9 0.4 0.7 0.23 0.78 55
oatmeal 3120 16 0.9 0.55 1 0.54 0.2 0.44 0.2 0.75 13
whole oats 2550 11.4 0.79 0.52 0.89 0.5 0.18 0.4 0.16 0.68 12
wheat (hard red) 2900 14.1 0.6 0.44 0.89 0.37 0.21 0.51 0.16 0.57 48
Mixed 75:25oatmeal 2955 20.5 1.05 0.61 1.195 0.81 0.35 0.635 0.2225 0.7725 44.5
Mixed 60:40oatmeal 2988 19.6 1.02 0.598 1.156 0.756 0.32 0.596 0.218 0.768 38.2
mixed 75:25oats 2812.5 19.35 1.0225 0.6025 1.1675 0.8 0.345 0.625 0.2125 0.755 44.25
Mixed 65:35oats 2777.5 18.29 0.9915 0.5915 1.1305 0.76 0.323 0.595 0.2055 0.745 39.95
mixed 55:45oats 2742.5 17.23 0.9605 0.5805 1.0935 0.72 0.301 0.565 0.1985 0.735 35.65
mixed 75:25wheat 2900 20.025 0.975 0.5825 1.1675 0.7675 0.3525 0.6525 0.2125 0.7275 53.25
This table used the recommended diet (NRC 1994) mixed with oats, oatmeal, and wheat. Notice the drop in niacin. If mixing, it's probably better to mix oatmeal, rather than whole oats, but there isn't much of a protein reduction (although the drop in methionine + cycteine is of concern) and little change in ME. That's why I do not recommend mixing and matching feeds to "lower" protein because it alters the balance, making it difficult to know what the bird is actually getting, and does it meet their needs.
Clint