Can You Say Triticale?

Triticale (trit-ih-kay'-lee) is a cross between a grass and a grain that is used for feeding the dairy cows at the farm. It has a higher protein content than a single grain, and it is a hybrid of wheat and rye grains. Triticale helps reduce erosion levels and it helps improve soil health and structure that is important for the other crops grown on the farm.

Dairy cows need high energy forage. Triticale offers a very beneficial high sugar and moderate protein feed. This highly nutritious feed for the cows is especially good for the young heifers as they receive quality nutrients with less fat which grow into healthy milk cows.

When triticale is ready to be harvested, the crops are cut, raked, chopped, and stored in the silos. Triticale is cut in a green stage which is called flag leaf harvest. It is harvested in the early spring and produces about 10 tons of feed per acre! That is a lot of food for the cows! It is important to produce and feed quality silage to the milking cows. The harvest of triticale comes just before it is time for the corn to be planted at Fort Vannoy Farms.

Come on out and visit the farms and the fields to see what is growing and changing everyday!