Triticale is a manmade cross between wheat and rye, and is intermediate in most characteristics between the two, although it does also exhibit hybrid vigor and often yields more than either parent. Planted in spring for grain production, maturity will occur in late July or August. As a cool season grass, spring triticale can be used in the fall for faster growth and higher production than a winter cereal. When planted in the fall, growth will be similar to oats, with the potential for 24" to 36" plants and will not over-winter.
Compared to rye, triticale is later to green up in spring but usually exceeds rye in total forage production when mechanically harvested for hay or silage, with the forage production being later in the season. Typically, rye is preferred for spring pasture, and triticale is preferred for hay or silage. Triticale forage is better quality than rye, and beardless varieties are available to enable later cutting without having to deal with beard related palatability issues. Triticale varieties are highly variable depending on the variety of wheat used as the parent, so be sure to select a variety recommended for the area of use. Most varieties of triticale are bred for forage, but grain varieties are also available, the grain being used primarily for livestock feed as milling quality is quite inferior to wheat.
