Commodities: Field Crops: Forages
Georgia Forages: Triticale
Dr. Dennis Hancock,
Forage Extension Specialist
Crop & Soil Sciences Dept.
Triticale (pronounced trit-ih-KAY-lee) is a hybrid of wheat and rye that has been evaluated for grain and forage production. It grows tall like rye, but matures later like wheat. It has a relatively wide leaf and can produce high quality forage if grazed or cut in vegetative or early reproductive stages.
Unfortunately, triticale yields have historically not been greater than wheat. Further, it matures fast like rye, and its forage quality declines rapidly after seedhead development. Until recently, triticale has been bred for grain production. However, newer varieties have better forage production and, when harvested correctly, can provide excellent quality. Some of these newer varieties work well as single-cut silage or haylage crops, particularly for use in dairy rations. However, triticale does not perform well under grazing in Georgia.
Triticale varieties that are recommended for use in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont region as a silage crop (not for grazing): Monarch, Trical 342, and Trical 2700