Trendy Triticale
By Christine O’Reilly, OMAFA Forage & Grazing Specialist
Annual crops have played a larger role in forage production systems in recent years. Annuals often excel at filling production gaps for perennials, such as the summer slump, early spring, or late fall. Despite costing more per tonne of dry matter to grow, their ability to extend the growing or grazing season has made annual forage crops a popular compliment to the perennials that provide most of Ontario’s forage.
Selecting the right annual forage crop starts with deciding when the feed is needed. Winter cereals – specifically fall rye and winter triticale – offer more options for when and how to harvest than other annual crops. If they are seeded in late summer or early fall, winter cereals can provide late fall grazing, early spring grazing, or an early spring cut. Winter cereals seeded in the spring will not head out and can provide high-quality grazing all growing season.
Triticale [pronounced trit-uh-KALE-ee] was originally a cross between wheat and rye. Both winter and spring triticale are available. There has been a lot of research at Cornell University on using winter triticale as forage crop, especially in a double-crop system with a short-season silage corn. In the last few years there has been a large increase in triticale acres in Ontario across all ruminant sectors.
Livestock Feed Yield and Quality
Since it tillers more aggressively, well-managed triticale can produce a yield similar to rye. Depending on growth stage at harvest, triticale can yield between 4,000 and 8,000 lbs Dry Matter/acre when fall-seeded and harvested in the spring. This yield potential range is consistent with research in New York state, where the average triticale yield was higher than the average rye yield.
In Ontario, Johnson & McClure (2015) estimated pounds of gain per acre based off total digestible nutrients (TDN) and yield of four winter cereal species at boot stage (Table 1). Although fall rye out-performs the other cereals in this analysis, the two highest nitrogen (N) rates greatly increase lodging risk in rye, which makes harvest very challenging. The economic analysis of this trial suggested that 60 lbs of N/acre on winter cereals made the most financial sense at a hay price of $0.08/lb.
| Cattle Gain (lbs of gain per acre) | |||||
| Winter Cereal Forage Crop | Five Fertilizer N rate (lbs N /acre) | ||||
| 0 | 30 | 60 | 90 | 120 | |
| Fall rye | 240.6 | 263.1 | 381.8 | 392.1 | 409.5 |
| Winter barley | 109.1 | 151.7 | 215.9 | 228.7 | 271.8 |
| Winter triticale | 260.7 | 297.2 | 357.8 | 368.2 | 374.9 |
| Winter wheat | 192.4 | 256.1 | 331.9 | 328.0 | 330.1 |
| Source: Johnson & McClure, 2015 Cattle gain estimates are calculated from total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crop yield at boot stage. | |||||
Winter Triticale Agronomy
Seeding
Triticale for forage requires more management than fall rye, and seed is usually more expensive. Farmers who can put the effort into agronomy often prefer triticale, whereas rye is more forgiving of less-than-ideal seeding and growing conditions. Winter triticale should not be seeded on poorly drained soils.
Seed at a rate of 90-115 lbs/acre (900,000 to 1.2M seeds/acre), to 1 inch depth or into moisture. Use the phosphate and potash recommendations for winter wheat found in OMAFA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide for Field Crops.
Winter triticale should be seeded at the optimal seeding dates for winter wheat, which varies across the province (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Map of Ontario ‘Optimum Planting Date: Winter Wheat’
Nitrogen for Forage Triticale
Apply 75-90 lbs of N/acre at green-up in the spring. (Grain Triticale may require higher N application rates 75-120 lbs N/ac.) Triticale stems are thicker than rye, which makes it more resistant to lodging.
Due to the higher nitrogen application rates, forage triticale poses a greater risk of nitrate poisoning in livestock and silo gas production shortly after harvest. Laboratories that offer forage analysis services can test for elevated nitrates, and a nutritionist can advise on how to feed high-nitrate triticale forage.
BE SILO GAS AWARE
Silo gas can be deadly. It has a bleach-like odour and may be a reddish-brown colour, although it is not always visible. The greatest risk is the first 12-60 hours after filling a silo, and then the risk declines over the next six weeks. More information on preventing injury or death from silo gas can be obtained from the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services.
Harvesting
With annual forages growers get one cut per year to maximize quality compared to multiple harvest opportunities with perennial forages.
Forage triticale is usually ready to harvest in mid- to late-May, about 10 days later than rye (Image 2). Harvest dates can vary if poor field conditions or soils are unfit to carry equipment. However, the later harvest date may start to squeeze double-cropping options, particularly in areas of Ontario with shorter growing seasons.
Forage triticale can be harvested as baleage or haylage if cut before heading. It can also be harvested as whole-crop cereal silage if harvested at soft dough. This silage feeds more like corn silage than haylage because there is starch developing in the grain. Unlike corn silage, harvesting triticale late is very detrimental to feed quality.
Image 2. Spring forage harvest cut for livestock feed.
Terminating Winter Triticale Before Spring Silage Corn Planting
Winter triticale growers need to have an adequate termination herbicide plan in place prior to spring planting another crop rotation (e.g. silage corn) and ensure that they are scouting fields post-harvest and post-emergence for triticale regrowth or escapes.
Forage Varieties
The Ontario Cereal Crops Committee does not include forage cereal crop yields or quality in their trials, and there are no independent forage cereal trials in Ontario. Without independent data, forage cereal varieties are not registered with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. This means that triticale is typically sold in branded mixes of two or three unregistered varieties, and the genetics are often unknown. Farmers are encouraged to do their own on-farm trials if they are interested in finding the best forage cereal genetics for their situation.
Final Thoughts
Winter triticale can do an excellent job of filling late fall and early spring gaps in perennial forage production. It requires good agronomic management to achieve yield and quality targets. Forage variety recommendations are not available for Ontario.
Sources
Johnson, P., and McClure, S. 2015. Winter Cereal Forage Opportunities. Crop Advances. Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association.
Ketterings, Q., Ort, S., Swink, S.N., Godwin, G., Kilcer, T., Miller, J., and Verbeten, W. 2015. Winter cereals as double crops in corn rotations on New York dairy farms. Journal of Agricultural Science. 7(2):18-25.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 2022. Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto, Canada.
Weather Summary: Thursday, September 12 to Wednesday, September 18, 2024
| Location | Highest Temp (°C) | Lowest Temp (°C) | Rain for Week (mm) | Rain Since April 1st (mm) | GDD0C April 1st | GDD5C April 1st | CHU May 1st |
| HARROW | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.7 | 12.3 | 0.0 | 452.3 | 3158 | 2306 | 3454 |
| 2023 | 22.5 | 7.4 | 6.5 | 585.5 | 2875 | 2041 | 3150 |
| 2022 | 27.2 | 10.6 | 25.1 | 411.6 | 3051 | 2229 | 3450 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 23.1 | 11.1 | 15.9 | 519.9 | 3019 | 2165 | 3426 |
| RIDGETOWN | |||||||
| 2024 | 28.0 | 12.1 | 0.0 | 551.6 | 2991 | 2143 | 3244 |
| 2023 | 23.0 | 5.9 | 8.5 | 507.9 | 2743 | 1918 | 2953 |
| 2022 | 27.8 | 9.9 | 8.0 | 285.0 | 2899 | 2085 | 3210 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 23.3 | 9.5 | 12.7 | 464.1 | 2846 | 1997 | 3192 |
| SARNIA | |||||||
| 2024 | 29.1 | 11.5 | 0.0 | 466.1 | 3006 | 2159 | 3247 |
| 2023 | 21.7 | 7.8 | 34.4 | 482.1 | 2717 | 1892 | 2904 |
| 2022 | 29.8 | 9.5 | 0.2 | 324.3 | 2907 | 2099 | 3196 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 23.4 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 467.0 | 2827 | 1980 | 3189 |
| LONDON | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.3 | 12.1 | 0.0 | 554.9 | 2967 | 2116 | 3230 |
| 2023 | 22.2 | 5.6 | 16.8 | 550.4 | 2725 | 1900 | 2942 |
| 2022 | 27.2 | 6.5 | 15.2 | 330.5 | 2820 | 2015 | 3132 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 23.1 | 9.7 | 10.9 | 489.3 | 2818 | 1973 | 3166 |
| BRANTFORD | |||||||
| 2024 | 28.6 | 10.3 | 0.0 | 460.2 | 2908 | 2063 | 3154 |
| 2023 | 23.4 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 429.3 | 2705 | 1879 | 2907 |
| 2022 | 27.3 | 6.2 | 23.3 | 310.1 | 2833 | 2017 | 3074 |
| WELLAND | |||||||
| 2024 | 28.7 | 11.3 | 0.0 | 472.6 | 2981 | 2131 | 3267 |
| 2023 | 22.6 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 489.8 | 2765 | 1933 | 3000 |
| 2022 | 25.5 | 7.4 | 15.3 | 379.6 | 2884 | 2060 | 3218 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 22.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 434.4 | 2837 | 1990 | 3192 |
| GODERICH | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.7 | 11.9 | 0.0 | 369.8 | 2756 | 1914 | 3001 |
| 2023 | 20.2 | 5.7 | 12.6 | 370.8 | 2533 | 1725 | 2716 |
| 2022 | 26.2 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 291.0 | 2681 | 1878 | 2975 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 21.9 | 9.3 | 14.1 | 431.3 | 2599 | 1763 | 2934 |
| ELORA | |||||||
| 2024 | 26.9 | 10.0 | 1.1 | 425.3 | 2695 | 1857 | 2916 |
| 2023 | 21.1 | 4.4 | 35.5 | 466.9 | 2508 | 1697 | 2666 |
| 2022 | 26.5 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 256.1 | 2605 | 1801 | 2826 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 22.2 | 7.0 | 11.9 | 482.4 | 2547 | 1714 | 2824 |
| MOUNT FOREST | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.1 | 12.4 | 0.0 | 401.4 | 2696 | 1861 | 2935 |
| 2023 | 19.7 | 4.7 | 10.8 | 407.8 | 2501 | 1695 | 2669 |
| 2022 | 25.3 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 378.3 | 2596 | 1799 | 2863 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 22.2 | 8.1 | 11.9 | 493.4 | 2538 | 1712 | 2848 |
| BARRIE | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.6 | 8.9 | 0.0 | 558.8 | 2650 | 1815 | 2887 |
| 2023 | 20.9 | 3.9 | 11.9 | 501.1 | 2514 | 1703 | 2695 |
| 2022 | 23.7 | 3.8 | 44.0 | 387.0 | 2556 | 1750 | 2805 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 22.4 | 6.7 | 16.2 | 439.1 | 2507 | 1683 | 2793 |
| PETERBOROUGH | |||||||
| 2024 | 29.0 | 6.9 | 0.0 | 445.8 | 2682 | 1843 | 2859 |
| 2023 | 22.3 | 1.5 | 30.7 | 431.0 | 2570 | 1749 | 2704 |
| 2022 | 24.1 | 1.8 | 18.6 | 341.5 | 2600 | 1783 | 2815 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 22.9 | 5.4 | 11.4 | 431.5 | 2576 | 1741 | 2814 |
| KEMPTVILLE | |||||||
| 2024 | 29.0 | 11.9 | 0.0 | 552.6 | 2850 | 2012 | 3127 |
| 2023 | 23.4 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 501.6 | 2728 | 1912 | 2912 |
| 2022 | 24.6 | 6.0 | 32.3 | 487.1 | 2759 | 1924 | 3028 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 22.6 | 6.9 | 13.9 | 483.1 | 2708 | 1875 | 3014 |
| SUDBURY | |||||||
| 2024 | 27.7 | 10.5 | 0.1 | 500.7 | 2520 | 1708 | 2760 |
| 2023 | 21.9 | 3.1 | 8.5 | 515.4 | 2366 | 1593 | 2536 |
| 2022 | 22.6 | 0.0 | 27.9 | 346.4 | 2394 | 1617 | 2684 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 21.1 | 6.5 | 17.0 | 460.4 | 2369 | 1596 | 2685 |
| EARLTON | |||||||
| 2024 | 28.9 | 10.2 | 0.0 | 484.3 | 2472 | 1667 | 2674 |
| 2023 | 22.0 | 2.5 | 17.3 | 403.5 | 2325 | 1551 | 2463 |
| 2022 | 20.6 | 3.4 | 60.1 | 411.3 | 2333 | 1564 | 2556 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 20.7 | 5.4 | 25.2 | 439.6 | 2208 | 1458 | 2478 |
| SAULT STE MARIE | |||||||
| 2024 | 25.7 | 12.2 | 0.0 | 521.8 | 2378 | 1552 | 2568 |
| 2023 | 22.3 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 378.6 | 2300 | 1525 | 2437 |
| 2022 | 26.0 | 5.3 | 40.1 | 448.7 | 2160 | 1386 | 2347 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 21.6 | 6.8 | 18.6 | 483.5 | 2185 | 1413 | 2406 |
| THUNDER BAY | |||||||
| 2024 | 29.6 | 9.8 | 1.9 | 343.0 | 2295 | 1491 | 2448 |
| 2023 | 21.1 | -0.6 | 3.8 | 305.0 | 2163 | 1411 | 2331 |
| 2022 | 23.6 | 0.7 | 78.9 | 556.2 | 2129 | 1388 | 2326 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 20.2 | 4.7 | 18.5 | 426.0 | 2128 | 1365 | 2340 |
| FORT FRANCES | |||||||
| 2024 | 28.7 | 11.6 | 51.9 | 480.9 | 2387 | 1572 | 2588 |
| 2023 | 22.4 | -3.1 | 0.9 | 312.4 | 2323 | 1564 | 2521 |
| 2022 | 25.6 | 2.1 | 46.7 | 622.2 | 2217 | 1478 | 2491 |
| 10 YR Norm (11-20) | 21.0 | 4.3 | 13.5 | 423.1 | 2253 | 1472 | 2489 |