Oat

Oat is a cereal grass in the genus Avena, most commonly referring to cultivated oat, Avena sativa, grown for its edible grain and as livestock feed.

Oat is a cereal grass in the genus Avena, most commonly referring to cultivated oat, Avena sativa, grown for its edible grain and as livestock feed. It is a member of the grass family Poaceae and is widely cultivated in temperate regions. Oats are also processed into foods such as oatmeal and rolled oats.

Classification

Oat is a cereal grass in the genus Avena, within the grass family Poaceae. The cultivated species most often meant by “oat” is Avena sativa, also called common oat.

Cultivation and uses

Oats are grown worldwide, especially in cool temperate regions, for grain, forage, hay, silage, and cover cropping. They are an important feed grain for livestock and are also used in human foods.

Food products

Oat grain is processed into products such as oatmeal, steel-cut oats, rolled oats, oat bran, oat flour, and oat milk. These foods are valued for their nutritional content and use as breakfast foods.

Botany

Oats are annual grasses with narrow leaves and hollow stems, and cultivated oats typically reach about 1.5 metres in height under suitable conditions. They are described as cool-season cereals adapted to moist, temperate climates.