Chemical Composition, Nutritive Value and Yield of Oat Fodder at Different Stages of Maturity

The yield, chemical composition and nutritive value of oat OS-6 fodder was studied at pre- llowering (T₁), flowering (T₂) and post flowering (T₃) stages. There was an increase in % DM, CF and NFE, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin while decrease in that of CP, EE and total ash from T₁ to T₃ stages. The digestibility of nutrient declined from T₁ to T stages. The average DCP yield at T₁, T₂ and T₃ stages were 1.75±0.02 1.37±0.01 and 0.35 ±0.06q/ha respectively. TDN yield q/ha was significantly higher in T₂ stage than other stages of oat fodder. Thus oat OS-6 fodder harvested at flowering stage was superior in terms of chemical composition and nutritive value over other stages of growth.