Is This the Most Underrated Feed Crop in the West?

Low maintenance, high yield, cow-approved — triticale is quickly moving from niche to must-have on cattle operations.
Triticale may once have been considered a niche crop, but its value in cattle production is becoming harder to ignore.

“The cattle industry has really benefited from this type of crop,” says Len Solick of Solick Seeds. “It’s produced really well, and in drier conditions it’s been a huge bonus.”

Part of triticale’s appeal is its versatility. Producers can swath graze it in winter, bale it for feed, or blend it with barley for silage. “We’ve got customers who will put in about two bushels an acre of triticale to one bushel of barley,” Solick says. “That mix goes into a silage pit, and it gives them the right moisture balance because triticale matures later than barley.”

Among the varieties Solick Seeds offers, AB Stampeder is his newest. Developed at Western Crop Innovations’ research facility, Solick says the variety has a number of pros.

“Palatability for the cow is number one,” Solick says. “This variety has been a huge bonus — the cows like it, the energy level is strong, and the value to the producer is right where they need it to be.”

AB Stampeder has also proven to be productive, out-yielding some of the older varieties on the market. “It’s been a really productive variety,” Solick notes. “There’s been a bonus with the breeding program here, and the results have been awesome.”