CEREALS & GRAINS

Oats are used chiefly as livestock feed. Some are processed for human consumption, especially as breakfast foods. The grains are high in carbohydrates and contain about 13% protein and 7.5% fat. They are a source of calcium, iron, vitamin B1, and niacin.

As a livestock feed, the grain is used both in pure form and in mixtures, though the demand for oats has been somewhat reduced by competition from hybrid corn (maize). The straw is used for animal feed and bedding. In industry oat hulls are a source of furfural, a chemical used in various types of solvents. The biggest producers of oat are European Union, Russia, Canada, Australia and United States.