Triticale as a Potential Component of Chick Rations

A new grain, Triticale, (a synthesized hexaploid species combining the genomes of Triticum durum and Secale cereale) was tested as the principal ingredient in a chick starter ration. On a pound-for-pound basis Triticale was approximately equal to hard spring wheat in nutritive value for chicks as judged by growth, efficiency of feed utilization and ration metabohzable energy. Supplementation of a 17.5 per cent protein, Triticale ration with glycine, DL-methionine and/or L-lysine showed lysine to be the most limiting amino acid for chicks. A similar study with a 21 per cent protein ration showed that both L-lysine and DL-methionine were limiting for chick growth. The results bring to the fore the potential importance of new, synthesized plant species to animal production and, simultaneously, present an evaluation of a grain from one of these new species as a feed ingredient for chickens.