"Oat Hay still has the oat grains in it and the Oat Straw is the leaf and stem matter left over
after harvesting the oats.

Whole OATS have a barb in one end of the grain and these barbs have been known to collect in pockets of the stomach and perforate to a ulcer state.  This is why we recommend that if you are feeding oats that they be thoroughly rolled and crushed.  Steamed and/or flaked are OK to feed.

When we buy COB (corn, oats, barley), we have to watch the oats to see they have been crushed. Sometimes in the mill crushing procedure, the crushing rollers aren't set tight enough to get the barb off the oat.

I personally will not feed a whole oat produce and I watch the products that have oats in them for proper processing. If the oat is properly treated they are a excellent product.

Take a few of your oat grains apart and you will see the barb in question. You may get away with feeding them for a while and all of a sudden The 'oat barb villain' arises and you have one serious problem on your hands. That is not worth it to me."

Contributed by,
Al G---------------

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