This forage crop is harvested while the oats are still in the dough stage, rather than waiting for the grain to fully mature. The entire plant, including the stalk, leaves, and grain head, is chopped and packed into a silo or wrapped in plastic to ferment. It provides a highly palatable, energy-dense roughage for dairy and beef cattle.
Heard on the job
We need to get the chopper ready because the oats are hitting the dough stage and we want to put up some oatlage by Tuesday.