A new report, indicating that Triticale is capable of competing with wheat in terms of both yield and profitability, could be good for the pig sector, given the crop’s highly rated value for inclusion in pig rations.
Research results from work funded by AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds suggest that triticale has the potential to provide growers with a £27 per hectare advantage compared to wheat when grown as a second crop. To maximise this potential, however, the research team says that the triticale market will need to be developed further.
One of the beneficiaries of such development could be the pig sector, based on the fact that triticale has “useful characteristics” for inclusion in ruminant and non-ruminant feed.
“The crop gives digestible energy equivalent to wheat in pig rations and also has a high lysine content, giving it an advantage over wheat in pig feed,” said AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds.
Triticale, which is a cross between wheat and rye, was bred to combine the grain qualities of wheat with the low input requirements and hardiness of rye. It has had limited take-up in the UK, to date, partly due to it often being seen as a low-yielding crop best suited to poor or marginal soils. Elsewhere, triticale has made a significant impact, notably in Poland where over 1 million hectares are grown, with performance comparable to wheat.