Herbal profile
Name
Green Oat, Oat Herb
Latin name
Avenae herba
Traditional uses
for nervous exhaustion, insomnia, anxiety, and feelings of tension; green oat tea is said to lower uric acid levels as part of rheumatism and gout therapy; in humans, it is considered cleansing and diuretic.
Scientifically proven application(s)
contains silica, flavonoids, triterpenic saponins, avenin, amino acids, carotenoids, vitamins B, E, and K, as well as minerals and trace elements (including high levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium); has anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating (saponins), and nerve-strengthening properties. Used in preparations for cardiovascular issues and respiratory support.
Contraindications
No known side effects at usual doses.
When is it collected
Before flowering
Which parts of the plant are used?
whole above-ground part of the plant
How is it prepared?
as tea, pellets, or dried
Trivia
in southern countries, green oat is harvested like hay and fed as roughage, mixed with whole alfalfa plants
Sanoanimal Herbal advice:
Every horse owner is familiar with oats as a grain or concentrate feed. But what exactly is green oat? Green oat grains? No, not at all. Green oat refers to the entire aerial part of the oat plant, ideally harvested shortly before or during flowering – before any oat grains develop. The timing of the harvest plays a key role in the nutritional value of the green oat later on. This is because immediately after flowering, the so-called milk stage begins, during which the oat grains form. When looking at the nutritional values of the whole oat plant harvested before the milk stage, the analysis typically shows:
Crude protein: 8–15%
Crude fibre: 15–30%
Crude ash: 4–8%
Sugar: 4–8%
Starch: 1–4%
However, if harvest is delayed until the milk stage, the values can quickly look like this:
Crude protein: 8–15%
Crude fibre: 15–25%
Crude ash: 4–8%
Sugar: 20–30%
Starch: 20–30%
You can see that green oat harvested at the right time (shortly before or during flowering) is well-suited as horse feed. However, if harvested too late (during or after the milk stage), it can quickly become problematic for our four-legged friends. This is why not all green oat is the same – as so often, the devil is in the detail.
As horse feed, green oat is still relatively unknown in the UK, despite offering many positive qualities. Unlike oat grain, which is a starch-rich concentrate, green oat – due to the use of the whole plant – is a protein-rich feed with roughage characteristics. In terms of its nutritional value, it is therefore more comparable to alfalfa or sainfoin.
Oat herb has a relatively high energy content due to its high protein levels: 1 kg of green oat contains an average energy value of 11–13 MJ/kg dry matter, whereas hay typically ranges between 8–10 MJ/kg dry matter. For comparison, oat grain provides 12–14 MJ/kg dry matter. However, the energy from green oat is preferable for most horses, as it primarily comes from protein rather than starch, which can be problematic for equine digestion.
Accordingly, green oat should be used as a supplementary feed alongside roughage, not as a replacement for hay. Due to its high energy and protein content, green oat is very much in the league of concentrate feeds.
For comparison: Horse hay usually has a crude protein content of 6–9%. Due to the lower starch and sugar content in green oat compared to oat grain (oat grains contain an average of 40% starch), feeding green oat as a concentrate feed is less likely to cause issues and conditions such as dysbiosis, laminitis, lymphatic swelling, or insulin resistance, which are often associated with high starch levels in the diet.
Unlike cereal grains, green oat is primarily digested in the large intestine due to its high cellulose content (up to 25%). As a result, no propionic acid or gases are produced in the stomach and small intestine, as can occur with grain feeding. This can significantly reduce the risk of gas colic and gastric ulcers. Therefore, green oat is also suitable for horses with a sensitive stomach.
Due to its high nutritional value, ponies should receive a maximum of 250–500 g of green oat per day, and horses in light work 500–750 g per day. For a high-performance horse undertaking heavy work, the amount can be increased to up to 2 kg per day. However, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist to accurately assess the horse’s workload. Riders often overestimate how much work their horses are actually doing. Care should always be taken to meet the energy requirements of sport horses primarily through hay. Any additional concentrate feed, such as green oat or other energy sources, should only be given as needed and divided into two to three portions per day.
In addition to its excellent nutritional value, the oat plant contains a high mineral content (crude ash 4–8%), including potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as a balanced calcium-phosphorus ratio. Oat also contains more silica than other grasses, which has a beneficial effect on connective tissue, including tendons and ligaments. Additionally, green oat is rich in B vitamins and essential amino acids.
Even Hildegard von Bingen referred to the oat plant as a “joyful and healthy food” that “brings a cheerful mind and clear thinking.” In traditional medicine, green oat is primarily used as a bladder herbal tea in detoxification cures, as well as for insomnia, nervous exhaustion, and to lower elevated uric acid levels. According to naturopathy, it has a diuretic effect, supporting the body’s natural detoxification process. For this reason, green oat is often included in cleansing herbal blends, for example, during the coat change period.
Care should always be taken to ensure that only green oat harvested at the right time is used in horse feeding. Late-harvested green oat is particularly problematic for leisure horses, draft breeds, and those with insulin resistance, a history of laminitis, Cushing’s symptoms, or severe overweight, due to its high sugar and starch content.
Green oat can be fed as chopped herb, brewed as a tea, or in pellet form.
Sources
- Flora Team (25.01.2017): Arzneipflanze des Jahres 2017. Hafer. https://www.flora-pharm.de/blog/wertvoller-hafer/ (zuletzt aufgerufen am 12.02.2023)
- Fritz, Dr. Christina (2015): Pferde fit füttern. Cadmos Verlag, Schwarzenbek. 4. Auflage.
- Ganz, Chrischta (06.03.2017): Arzneipflanze des Jahres 2017: Hafer (Avena sativa). Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Ganzheitsmedizin. Aus der Praxis für die Praxis.
- Schneider, Dr. sc. agr. Kerstin: Die Bedeutung des Grünhafers in der Fütterung des Pferdes.
- Fukushima M, Matsuyama F, Ueda N, Egawa K, Takemoto J, Kajimoto Y, Yoneda M, Nakano M. Effect of corosolic acid on postchallenge plasma glucose levels. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2006;73(2):174-177. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2006.01.010
- Miraj, S., & Kiani, S. (2016). Study of pharmacological effect of Avena sativa: A review. Der Pharmacia Lettre, 8(9), 137-40.
- Bratt, K., Sunnerheim, K., Bryngelsson, S., Fagerlund, A., Engman, L., Andersson, R. E., & Dimberg, L. H. (2003). Avenanthramides in oats (Avena sativa L.) and structure− antioxidant activity relationships. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 51(3), 594-600.
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