OAT BY-PRODUCTS FOR FARM STOCK. 



119 



The results of the analyses of the two samples of oat hulls simply 

 emphasize their very low protein and fat, — 1.49 of protein and .67 of 

 fat, — and then- very high fiber content. The fiber percentage multi- 

 phed by 3 gives 96.4 per cent of hulls, indicating the presence of very 

 little dust or middlings. 



Oat middlings vary somewhat in composition, depending naturally 

 upon the process of separation employed. The higher the fiber content 

 the less completely are the hulls separated. A high grade of middlings 

 such as results from the second break evidently ought to contain not more 

 than 5 to 6 per cent of fiber, and at least 15 per cent of protein. 



The oat feed does not vary more in composition than one would expect 

 from a by-product of this sort. Its moisture content is low, due to arti- 

 ficial drying, showing an average of 6.85 per cent. It has relatively httle 

 protein, extremes of from 4.65 to 7.12 being noted, with an average of 

 5.70 per cent. The fiber content is high, due to the large amount of oat 

 huUs; the average percentage of fiber was 26.64. A much higher per- 

 centage of fiber than this average would indicate an excess of huUs. 

 Carefully conducted studies ^ have shown that in case of oat by-products 

 the percentage of fiber present multipUed by 3 will give the percentage of 

 oat hulls. The apphcation of this rule to the average analyses of the 

 twelve samples (26.64 x 3 = 80) shows SO per cent of hulls and 20 per 

 cent of fine material (oat dust and middlings). The fat percentage in 

 the feed is low, as would be expected. 



C. Digestibility of Oat By-Products. 



The station has made a number of digestion experiments with oat 

 feed, middlings and hulls. Sheep and horses were employed for the 

 purpose. The results only of the experiments are reported in this con- 

 nection. Sheep would not eat any amount of the oat feed when fed dry, 

 and hence it was necessary to moisten it thoroughly. It was also moistened 

 before being fed to horses. 



Table II. — Digestion Coefficients for Oat By-Products. 

 (a) Oat Hulls (Sheep). 



1 Landw. Versuchssta. Band XCIV, Heft I and II, pp. 9-40, by H. Neubauer. 



