OATS 151 



in high esteem for feeding horses, particularly those at 

 heavy work, many horsemen preferring them to any 

 other grain feed. For horses they are not usually ground, 

 and they may either be fed alone or in combination with 

 other grains. They are highly prized for feeding sheep, 

 especially ewes and growing lambs. They may also be 

 fed to hogs and cattle, and for this purpose they are 

 usually ground, often in combination with other grains. 

 Not a little of our oat crop is used for human food, almost 

 all of that which is used in this country being in the form 

 of " rolled oats." Rolled oats are prepared for use by 

 removing the hull and then flaking the kernels by running 

 them between heavy rollers to press them into thin flakes. 

 In this form they are boxed and placed on the market. 

 To prepare them for serving, they must be cooked in 

 water for some time in order to break down the cellulose 

 and render the starch grains thoroughly cooked. Only 

 the best grades of oats are used for making rolled oats, 

 and grain for this purpose commands the highest price 

 on the market. Oats have long been used in Europe for 

 food, especially in Scotland, where they hold an important 

 place in the dietary of the people, being used there largely 

 in the form of oat meal or ground oats. 



137. Use as forage. — Oat straw is highly prized for 

 feeding live stock, since it is more readily eaten and con- 

 tains greater feeding value than the straw from other 

 cereals. It is frequently used as roughage for keeping 

 stock over the winter, but it should not be used extensively 

 for feeding growing stock, milch cows, or horses at work. 

 Oat straw is also valuable for bedding, since it is rather 

 less harsh than other straws, contains no beards, and 

 absorbs liquids quite readily. 



Sometimes oats are cut for hay or used for pasture or 



