In two experiments conducted over a 2‐year period, oat straw was ensiled with different levels of perennial ryegrass and wet hulless‐barley distillers’ grains (WHDG) to improve utilization efficiency of oat straw as ruminants feed. Firstly, oat straw was ensiled with varying proportions of perennial ryegrass (0, 20, 40 or 60% of fresh weight [FW]). The lactic acid (LA) and lactic/acetic acid (LA/AA) were increased (L, Q, P < 0.01) whereas pH value, propionic acid, butyric acid and volatile fatty acids were decreased (L, Q, P < 0.01) with increasing perennial ryegrass levels. From the perspective of maximum use oat straw, it was suggested that 40% perennial ryegrass inclusions was proper for further study. Then, mixtures of oat straw and perennial ryegrass (60/40) were ensiled with WHDG at 0, 100, 200 or 300 g kg–1 FW (defined as WHDG0, WHDG100, WHDG200 and WHDG300, respectively), the fermentation characteristics and in vitro rumen degradability were analyzed. The dry matter (DM) and pH value declined (L, Q, P < 0.01), while the LA increased (L, Q, P < 0.01) with the increase of WHDG ratios. The inclusion of WHDG significantly decreased ammonia nitrogen concentrations (L, Q, P < 0.01). The crude protein content linearly increased (P < 0.01), whereas the acid detergent fiber (ADF) content linearly decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing levels of WHDG. The WHDG inclusion significantly increased in vitro neutral detergent fiber degradability (L, Q, P < 0.01) with the highest value in WHDG200. The in vitroDM and ADF degradability had a Q effect (P < 0.01) in response to increasing WHDG levels. Overall inclusion of WHDG can improve the fermentation and in vitro degradability of mixed silages of oat straw and perennial ryegrass.