Diversity of chemical composition, dry matter intake, in vivo digestibility and in situ dry matter degradability of oat hay (Avena sativa)

Diversity of chemical composition, in vivo digestibility and in situ dry matter degradability of oat hay (Avena sativa) were studied. Oat hay samples obtained from 22 batches imported were analyzed for chemical composition. The result showed a wide range of variations in crude protein (3.9–8.8%, on a dry matter basis), crude fiber (22.1–35.2%), nitrogen free extract (50.0–66.0%), organic cellular contents (23.4–40.0%), organic cell wall (53.1–70.8%), organic a (4.1–9.8%), organic b (49.0–63.8%) fractions and the estimated total digestible nutrients (50.3–63.8%) from the organic components. Of these, four oat hay samples were used for the measurement of dry matter intake, in vivo digestibility and in situ dry matter degradability in sheep. Significant differences were observed for the dry matter intake, in vivo digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and nitrogen free extract, dry matter disappearance at 48 h and effective degradability at k = 0.05 h^?1 of the samples (P < 0.05). The results revealed a wide range of diversity of nutritional quality of the imported oat hay that could have an affect on production potential in animals.