Oats

Oats are a cereal grain, the seeds of which are used as food and as an ingredient in many types of dishes. Oats contain soluble fiber. World wide 24.2 Million metric tons of oats will be produced. China tops production, delivering over thirty percent of the world supply with Canada coming in second at over ten percent and the United States a distant thrid.http://www.fas.usda.gov/grain/circular/2010/04-10/grainfull04-10.pdf

There are four common varieties of Oats:

• Black Oats
• White Oats
• Grey Oats
• Red Oats

In addition to the widely recognized Quaker rolled oats one can expect to find steel cut oats0, instant oats, oat groats and oat flour in most supermarkets. Health food stores may also offer a variety of oat products in bulk bins.

The most common use of oats is for the feeding of livestock such as horses, sheep, chicken and cows. A farm animal is capable of eating the oats stalks and all. For human consumption, oats are usually associated with breakfast cereals. It is also used in the production of beer such as an Oatmeal Stout, as well as Bread|bread and flour. Oats can be used as a substitute for breadcrumbs when making meatloaf or meatballs.