Is corn higher in energy than oats?

Answer 1

Introduction Grains are the seeds of cereal plants that belong to the grass family. They are fed primarily as sources of energy. Those commonly fed to horses are oats, barley, corn, milo, wheat, rice, and rye. These grains can vary widely in energy, protein, fiber, and weight (Table 1). Differences in nutritional value and physical characteristics should be considered when formulating diets. Oats Oat grain is the most popular cereal grain fed to horses. It's popularity as a grain for horses is due to habit, a lack of familiarity with other grains, and the fact that it is the safest and most palatable to horses. Oat grain has a soft kernel and is easy to chew. Processing oats is not beneficial except for horses with poor teeth or those that are very young. The fiber level of oats is 10-12% and is therefore less likely to cause laminitis or digestive problems as compared to other grains. Barley Barley grain looks similar to oat grain but is somewhat harder. Therefore, it is generally recommended that barley be crimped or rolled for horses. However, processing does not increase its feeding value for horses with good teeth. The fiber content of barley is higher than that of corn, milo, wheat, rice, and rye. Barley is intermediate between oats and corn in energy, fiber level, safety, and heat produced. It is more similar to corn in its density. Slightly less of its starch is digested in the small intestine as compared to corn. Good quality barley is a desirable cereal grain for horses. It can be fed as the only grain in the diet with no adverse effects. However, it is less palatable than oats or corn and is commonly used in a grain mix. CornCorn is commonly fed to horses. However, excessive amounts should be avoided. Corn is slightly less palatable than oats but more palatable than other grains for horses. Corn is prone to mold and lacks the safety margin against over-consumption that oat grain provides. Corn is lower in fiber but higher in energy and density than oats. It provides two times as much energy as an equal volume of oats (Table 1). When equal amounts of energy (not equal volumes of grain) are fed, corn does not have any greater tendency to obesity or to make a horse "high" than any other grain. Many mistakenly believe that corn is a "heating-feed". For this reason corn is often fed in the winter and not in the summer. If "hot" refers to high energy, then it is a "hot-feed"; but not when it refers to high heat production. The reason is that corn is lower in fiber than oats or barley. The greatest amount of heat produced in feed digestion is from microbial fermentation of fiber. Therefore, the higher the fiber content, the more heat produced. In corn only 41% of its gross energy is given off as heat, as compared to 66% of the gross energy in oats. When corn is fed, there is increased risk of cecal acidosis resulting in laminitis, founder, diarrhea, and colic as compared to when oats are fed. The reasons for this are (1) high energy density of corn, (2) risk of excess intake, (3) corn's lower fiber content, and (4) less starch from corn is digested and absorbed in the small intestine than from oats. Approximately 98% of starch from oat grain is absorbed in the small intestine as compared to 70% of the starch from corn (Figure 1). As a result more starch enters the cecum after the horse eats corn than oats. Starch fermentation in the cecum results in greater production of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid results in disorders noted above. Milo