Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

Oats are a high value livestock feed however the use of oats has diminished being replaced by wheat and barley. the fibrous hull of oats reduces its digestibility and its nutritional quality. Current methods of removing the husk (dehulling) from the oats are expensive as they have been developed to remove the husks to a level (>99.5%) required by the human food sector and are a “bottleneck” in exploiting oats for livestock feed. For the animal feed sector such levels of removal are less crucial so that alternative, less expensive dehulling systems may be feasible. This proposal will develop and apply innovative engineering approaches to the development of low cost and efficient systems of dehulling and stabilising oat grain, to capitalise on the value of the oat grain as a high quality livestock feed for ruminants and monogastrics and deliver commercial return to Senova. Differences in ease of dehulling between oat varieties and impact of dehulling efficiency on feed value will be measured. The project will also quanify the economic benefit of using the oat husks, currently regarded as a “waste” product, as a source of platform chemicals adding value to the production chain.

We aim to improve the sustainability of the high-protein co-product used for animal-feed, Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS), by using triticale as a biofuel feedstock. As well as having a favourable amino acid profile compared with wheat, recent research shows that triticale can out-perform wheat on high-yielding land with reduced nitrogen fertiliser requirements and improved environmental credentials. Triticale has never before been used as a UK biofuel feedstock, so we will: 1) Demonstrate cost & environmental benefits of triticale over wheat across contrasting environments; 2) Evaluate grain, alcohol & DDGS quality in the lab; 3) Optimise protein output; 4) Demonstrate market utility by processing triticale in a commercial plant. This project engages the whole supply chain including breeders, agronomy & research companies and a biofuel processor.

This project will utilise modern marker assisted breeding methods to develop lines of oat resistant to crown rust and mildew fungal diseases safeguarding the use of this important crop. Innovative aspects include the genetic dissection of resistance mechanisms identified in certain oat genotypes and the use of syntenic relationships with a model plant species to identify genes and markers associated with resistance. Following introgression of the resistance genes into elite germplasm the resulting lines will be tested in the field for pathogen resistance and agronomic performance. The project addresses concerns raised by 91/414/EEC that inexpensive triazole fungicides currently used in oats will be deregistered. Development of genetic resistance offers the only economically viable solution in oats to prevent losses in crop yield and quality due to these diseases which are becoming more prevalent in the UK due to global climate change. Economic benefits include the maintenance and enhancement of the UK oat area, a crop with significant benefits to producers of healthy food products, animal feed manufacturers and industrial processors, while the use of environmentally damaging fungicides will be rendered unnecessary. The project brings together the major UK company producing and marketing oat seed (Senova Ltd), the major UK institute engaged in arable crop evaluation and crop pathology (NIAB), the major UK oat breeding and genetics research organisation (IBERS, Aberystwyth) and a large farmer member based organisation engaged in crop evaluation and technology transfer (TAG) in a consortium which has the skills and commercial experience to deliver the project outcomes.