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Oats: A high performing native grain

Oats: A high performing native grain

This factsheet shows that Irish grown oats are an effective and sustainable alternative to barley for finishing beef cattle.

25 November 2025 Type Factsheet

By Teagasc

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We often hear that barley is the premium grain, and oats are just a second-best option for livestock. However, Teagasc trials showed that when feeding finishing beef cattle on a grass silage-based diet, rolled oats performed just as effectively as rolled barley.