Nutritive Value of Triticale for Ruminants2

Triticale was developed by crossing two genera of existing cereal grains, wheat and rye, and the name derived from the generic classifications of these grains (Triticum, wheat and Secale, rye). The earlier amphiploid triticales were Durum wheat × rye crosses and date back to the late 1800's. Plant breeders have since strived to develop tetraploid and hexaploid triticales that combine the more optimal characteristics of both wheat and rye. Extensive research has been conducted at the University of Manitoba over the past several years in development of higher yielding, more vigorous triticales (Briggle, 1969). Recently, several new hexaploid triticales have been developed and selected at the Jenkins Foundation for Research, Salinas, California. These new selections are progenies of crosses between bread-type wheats and triticales which represent considerable improvement in plant fertility, vigor and yields over earlier triticales, and yields of these improved triticales were also superior to either wheat or rye grown under similar conditions (B. C. Jenkins, personal communication).