Triticale

Advances in triticale breeding are bringing forward high yielding, low biomass varieties which maintain their high productivity under low input regimes. Gone are the old weak strawed varieties being replaced by these hardy and robust types. Despite a generally lower protein level, the quality of the protein , especially on lysine and cystine is good, notably for animal feed. The crop also produces high fermentable carbohydrate levels which have already proved popular with European and North American ethanol producers.

Both spring and winter triticales are available now which offer high performance under lower nitrogen regimes. This could make triticale a cereal of preference in Nitrogen Vulnerable Zones, or with their drought tolerance, on soils prone to "hot spots".

On farm feed users have commented on triticale’s straw quality and resistance to rabbit damage .Growers have also found the crop to perform particularly well on the lighter more marginal soils where it appears to scavenge for moisture and nutrients more effectively than other cereals.

Excellent drought tolerance.
Particularly good performance on lighter marginal soils
Superior disease resistance
Shorter stiff strawed varieties now available
Very similar grain characteristics to wheat
Less attractive to rabbits than other cereals
Good for grain or wholecrop
Can be grown as a second or third cereal
High yields of quality straw

Wynnstay Exclusive on Top Yielding Triticale Variety

Triticale is considered by many to be a much undervalued crop in the UK, particularly in comparison to other countries in northern Europe where the benefits on farm have been more readily accepted. In the UK it has tended to be used primarily by those who feed the grain on farm and appreciate the high lysine values or by those looking to wholecrop. On lighter soils, where Triticale benefits form superior drought tolerance derived from the rye genetics, the yields can regularly exceed those of other widely grown cereals. It is also grown in situations where rabbits are known to be a problem as the damage is significantly less when compared to other cereals.

Genetic improvements have been quite dramatic in the last decade with the newly introduced varieties now being much more 'wheat-like' in their agronomics and higher yielding as a consequence. Ragtac is the highest yielding variety available and out yields the current UK favourite Grenado by over 10% and has superior grain quality, earlier ripening and much improved disease resistance, particularly to Yellow Rust where Grenado has shown poor resistance recently.

We are very pleased to be able to offer a new variety for 2012 in RAGTAC – the highest yielding triticale variety available.

Click here to download further information

Ragtac is available exclusively from Wynnstay.