Canadian OatsOnly about 50 percent of Canadian oat production is commercially traded. Based on 98/99 estimates, about 40% of Canadian oats are exported, primarily to the US performance and milling oat markets. Canada supplies the USA with 70% of its oats imports, with Finland and Sweden supplying the rest. In the Canadian domestic market, about four per cent of the oats are used for human consumption market, and another four per cent for seed.
The majority of Canadian oats are still used in the Canadian feed market. A large amount of the feed oats are produced and fed on farm, with a small amount moved to the Canadian racehorse market. Although oats are being used in more quality specific markets, in years of ample supply, the North American feed market is still a significant factor in determining overall oat prices.
Typically, the best oats produced are fed to horses! Performance oats, referred to by many as "pony oats", are high quality oats sold to premium horse feed markets. These oats normally are bought according to buyer specifications, but usually fit within the No. 1 grade specified by the Canadian Grain Commission. Buyer specifications require oats that are consistently plump, bright-colored and of heavy test weight. Performance oats are normally shipped in raw bulk or bagged form. Bagged product usually undergoes a process of double re-cleaning and clipping to increase bushel weight before being bagged. This produces quite a bit of by-product - screenings of weed seeds, dust, small oats, etc. - which grain companies also market.
Canadian Oats
