Journal article
Three hulless oat varieties show economic potential as organic layer feed grain
Renewable agriculture and food systems, Vol.33(5), pp.418-431
10/2018
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/113442
Abstract
Hulless oats are of interest as an alternative to corn and wheat in organic poultry diets because they offer potential to enhance agrobiodiversity and produce locally grown feeds both within and outside of corn-growing regions. Hulless oats are easily certified GM-free and have demonstrated nutritional value for poultry. A feeding study was carried out to examine: (i) the effects of substituting corn, wheat or a fraction of each with hulless oats in organic layer diets, and (ii) the importance of oat variety in feed performance. Productivity and economic implications in the context of current organic markets were explored. Experimental diets included an oat-free control, Oat + corn, Oat + wheat and Oat + corn + wheat, each of which was formulated with three hulless oat varieties, AC Gwen, Paul and Streaker. All but the control diet included oats at 200 g kg−1. Three hundred Hy-Line Brown hens were individually caged and allocated to diets in groups of 10 in a completely randomized design with three replicates per diet. Experimental diets were fed between 24 and 32 weeks of age during which time hen health, egg production and egg quality indicators were monitored. Results indicated that hulless oats had no negative effects on hen health and productivity. On the basis of current organic feed ingredient prices and an estimated cost of USD 533 mt−1 for production of oats in the study region, oat containing diets were more expensive than the oat-free control. In an evaluation of revenue based on current market prices for organic eggs, the additional cost was completely offset by larger egg sizes of hens on oat containing diets. There were no major differences associated with oat variety.
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Details
- Title
- Three hulless oat varieties show economic potential as organic layer feed grain
- Creators
- Louisa R Winkler - 1Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, PO Box 646420, Pullman WA 99164, USAKevin M Murphy - 1Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, PO Box 646420, Pullman WA 99164, USAJames C Hermes - 2Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, Withycombe Hall 112, Corvallis OR 97331, USA
- Publication Details
- Renewable agriculture and food systems, Vol.33(5), pp.418-431
- Academic Unit
- Crop and Soil Sciences, Department of
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, UK
- Number of pages
- 14
- Identifiers
- 99900547884701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article