Grazing Fall Triticale??

[randiliana]

We've grazed Fall Rye many times in the past. So far I haven't found or heard of much that is tougher than Fall Rye is. But, this year we have a bunch of Fall Triticale that we are combining (first year for that too) and we are thinking of seeding a bunch of it too. It makes some really good bales. However, I am wondering how tough this stuff is if it is grazed in the fall. I know with Fall Rye, we can pretty much put cows out on it when it is seeded, and leave them there, and/or graze it again for a while in the spring. Of course you don't get quite the yields the next year as you would if you hadn't grazed, but it doesn't kill it off.

If Triticale isn't tough enough, we are considering either selling it and buying Rye seed, or simply fencing it off.

Consider too, that our winters get down to -30 C often, and sometimes colder than that.

 

[per]

Not as hearty a rye and a little tougher than winter wheat. Depending on the winter it can winter kill on the knolls or the draws, not usually both. I went back to rye but some around here like the triticale better because where it is good it is really good. It can take some grazing pressure but it is a little more fragile than rye in my opinion. If you get snow and keep it it might not winter kill as bad as here. I am in major Chinook country.

 

[RSL]

From what I know of triticale it is as per says. I think it is also less suceptible to ergot. We are putting in 50 acres of rye this fall, but had a real search to find seed anywhere nearby.

 

[randiliana]

Thanks, guys, that's pretty much what we were thinking about Triticale. Now just to decide.....

 

[floyd]

Do the awns bother the cows? I almost bought some hay this spring but did not like the looks of the awns on it.

 

[randiliana]

Do the awns bother the cows? I almost bought some hay this spring but did not like the looks of the awns on it.

Well, so far we haven't fed a any Triticale. But, we've fed a lot of Rye over the years and haven't had too many problems with the awns, no more lumps than when we just fed hay.

 

[RobertMac]

Not as hearty a rye and a little tougher than winter wheat. Depending on the winter it can winter kill on the knolls or the draws, not usually both. I went back to rye but some around here like the triticale better because where it is good it is really good. It can take some grazing pressure but it is a little more fragile than rye in my opinion. If you get snow and keep it it might not winter kill as bad as here. I am in major Chinook country.

Per, how does triticale like "wet feet"? I've lost stands of rye because the soil stayed saturated too long. I assume it starts growing at the same low temps as rye...+35F and sunshine?

 

[per]

Not as hearty a rye and a little tougher than winter wheat. Depending on the winter it can winter kill on the knolls or the draws, not usually both. I went back to rye but some around here like the triticale better because where it is good it is really good. It can take some grazing pressure but it is a little more fragile than rye in my opinion. If you get snow and keep it it might not winter kill as bad as here. I am in major Chinook country.

Per, how does triticale like "wet feet"? I've lost stands of rye because the soil stayed saturated too long. I assume it starts growing at the same low temps as rye...+35F and sunshine?

I am not sure as we are in a less than 10 inch of rain part of the world. It will grow at cold temps like rye and will be lusher sooner than rye.