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BACKGROUND The effects of growth stage (GS) and ensiling were assessed on whole‐crop oat's (Avena sativa L. cv. Cantara) chemical composition, silage fermentation quality and in situ ruminal degradability. Oat was harvested and ensiled at six GS: boot, heading, water ripe, early milk, early dough and grain ripe (144, 151, 178, 234, 362 and 512 g kg−1 of dry matter (DM) of whole‐crop forage, respectively). RESULTS GS influenced chemical composition, silage fermentation quality and ruminal degradability of whole‐crop oat. Lower DM and higher water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) contents lead to adequate forage compaction and fermentation at early GS; however, effluent was produced until the dough stage (L and Q; P ≤ 0.003). Advancing in maturity increased (P < 0.001) crop yield (4.5 to 9.4 t DM ha−1), DM (144 to 512 g kg−1), neutral detergent fibre (NDF; 537 to 571 g kg−1 DM), lignin (44.6 to 71.3 g kg−1 DM) and starch contents (26.4 to 201 g kg−1 DM), and reduced (P < 0.001) crude protein (107 to 60 g kg−1 DM) and WSC (115 to 17.5 g kg−1 DM). DM and NDF ruminal degradability declined with maturity for fresh and ensiled forages (L and Q; P < 0.05). Density and buffering capacity decreased with GS (L and Q; P < 0.001), whereas pH and soluble protein increased (L and Q; P ≤ 0.004). CONCLUSION The growth stage of oat influenced the nutritive value and ruminal degradation to a greater extent than ensiling, and thus it can play a paramount role in whole‐crop oat silage quality. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Decision analysis consists of a set of tools supporting and handling structured evaluation. Such methodology is widely used for the economic evaluation of health care planning and programmes. This article outlines some characteristics regarding complex decision-making and shows the fundamental issues and stages considered when making decisions in an uncertain scenario (problem definition, choosing an appropriate time-frame, structuring the problem, developing a model for analysing it, selecting the best alternative and analysing sensitivity). Some criticism of this decision-making method is then made.