TriCal 102

• TRICAL® 102 can be grazed, chopped for silage or put up for hay.
• It has a well documented ability to consume nitrogen which makes it perfect for a dairy waste management system.
• Erosion control is a primary use because of  TRICAL® 102’s ability to cover the ground quickly and its extensive root system, estimated at 50% greater than winter wheat.
• TRICAL® 102 planted in late spring offers an alternative pasture grazing system all summer long and into the fall. After the crop is vernalized (goes through the winter) it will produce a forage crop for grazing or hay the following spring.

Key Attributes

• TRICAL® 102 is a winter hardy annual forage zused extensively in the Pacific Northwest for livestock grazing, hay and dairy silage.
• It is a winter hardy plant with amazing regenerative qualities which makes it ideally suited to grazing and forage production.
• Early in TRICAL® 102’s growth  the plants appears to go dormant, but actually it is developing a large root mass that powers later vegetative growth and is ideal for dairy nutrient uptake.   
• TRICAL® 102’s versatility is made possible by its awnletted (short awned) characteristic.

Agronomics

• TRICAL® 102 fall growth has a prostrate growth habit which covers the ground quickly.
• TRICAL® 102 breaks out of winter dormancy about one week later than wheat but is quick to recover and surpass wheat and most other forage cereals with dense green foliage.
• TRICAL® 102 will reach a height of four to five feet and make a good hay product.
• TRICAL® 102 roots will typically grow deeper and denser than winter wheat crop.

Management Tips

Primary Planting Time:  August to November
Seeding Rates:

• Plant 75-90 pounds per acre, when late summer planting, for fall grazing.
• Plant 100 pounds per acre when early and mid-fall planting, for spring forage.
• Plant 110 -115 pounds per acre, when late fall planting, for spring forage.

Fertility: TRICAL® 102 will usually take 150 pounds of nitrogen to grow the crop to the late boot state. Remember that protein and biomass are a direct function of plant nutrition.  Balance other nutrients with amount of nitrogen applied.  It is best when fertilizer is split between fall and spring.

Late Boost Harvest: Produces the highest quality forage that is also the most digestible. This is ideal for lactating cows with crude protein ranging from 16-22%.

Silage: Ensiling triticale should occur at 65% moisture. As with other forages a quality liquid inoculant is recommended to be applied at a minimum of 100,000 CFU (colony forming units) per gram of silage. This will help prevent harmful yeasts and molds from occurring and by lowering the pH of the forage prevent heating and help preserve a quality product.

Soft Dough Harvest: At soft dough harvest TRICAL® 102  yields almost twice the dry tons compared to late boot but at significantly lower nutritional levels. Crude protein at soft dough will be approximately 8-12% and undigestible fiber also increases. This stage of forage development is commonly used for dry dairy cows or cow calf operations and is fed as hay.

Always test for nitrates before feeding.