Evaluation of Variability in Forage oats (Avena sativa L.) Varieties in Regard to Feed Composition

Abstract

Sixteen forage oats (Avena sativa L.) varieties were evaluated at milk-ripe stage for 2 years. Forage samples were chemically analyzed by both of detergent- and enzymatic-Methods. Then, variability among variety groups was investigated in feed compositions and growth characters, using statistical analyses such as variance and cluster analysis. Among 4 groups classified according to earliness, morphology and breeding object, extremely early maturing and medium maturing groups were found to be homogeneous in each feed composition and possessed individual feed property. Medium maturing thin-stem and late maturing groups showed comparatively large variation in feed composition. From these results, it is concluded that farmers should put much emphasis on the difference of feed composition among variety groups and not treat oats as a whole. By regression analysis of all varieties tested, it was suggested that the fiber digestibility was high in the CP (crude protein) content-rich and ADL (acid detergent lignin)-poor varieties. The dry matter digestibility was high in the CP-rich, ADL-poor and NDF (neutral detergent fiber)-poor varieties.