CALF_News_August_September_2019

21 CALF News • August | September 2019 • www.calfnews.net ing 50-60 pounds per acre triticale in the fall. Nitrogen fertilizer is always included, top dressed, when interseeding is done. It is recommended at 50 pounds per acre, applied in the spring. Alfalfa fields will not only yield more forage, the triticale protects against alfalfa lodging and leaf loss. Improved air circulation and weed control are also benefits. According to Crop Quest Agronomic Services, triticale stands up well to graz- ing, weeds, diseases and cold weather. On the High Plains, it is virtually dis- ease free. It will yield high tonnage when ensiled and is a more efficient feedstuff than corn, alfalfa or soybeans. It may require 12-16 inches of water to produce a crop. Being a one-year commitment, it adds flexibility to a farming operation. Fertilization requirements are similar to wheat. It will never volunteer like rye. Steps for success In an August 2016 article, Ameri- can Agriculturalist offered some good advice. Germination rate of triticale seed depends upon how it was dried; spend more to buy good seed from a reputable dealer. Earlier planting produces better yields, so consult your seed dealer on planting rates. The farther north you live, the more crucial the timeline becomes. Figure on planting triticale 10-14 days before your local wheat plant- ing dates. Earlier seeding maximizes tillering and increases yield; planting later at an increased seeding rate does not work. Early planting also gets the jump on weeds, potentially eliminating the need for a fall herbicide. Addition- ally, it reduces winterkill. Do you haul manure to your fields? Early planting of triticale makes an ideal place for incor- porated manure applications. Drill your seed deep, 1.25 inches is recommended. Never broadcast. Now, my own two cents The reason for this Chuteside topic was prompted by our own satisfaction with the crop. We harvested winter triticale for the first time in 2018. It was planted in mid-September 2017 and harvested June 10, 2018, windrowed and baled. It yielded 4.5 tons per non- irrigated acre. We have more planted for 2019; it will be put up by the time this issue goes to print, and foxtail millet planted as a second crop on the same field. For the record, our fields were cov- ered with floodwater in the March 2019 Bomb Cyclone for five days. When the water finally receded on Mud Creek, the triticale smiled and greened up. It is truly a miracle plant. About the aforementioned food purists – since triticale grain is low in gluten, there is interest among health food stores as a grain-based product, thinking it is a healthier choice than wheat. It proves a problem, however. Triticale is difficult to process or mill, not having the same qualities as grains higher in gluten. There is no such thing as triticale bread. Also, it is impossible to think this stuff is not genetically modified, or at least majorly manipulated by man. It might be considered the first GMO. Tell that to a vegan food purist.  E vEn thE S mallESt C omponEntS C an h avE a B ig i mpaCt Micro-Cell® probiotics are a small yet critical component and help your cattle maintain an ideal intestinal balance. According to research trials, the strain Lactobacillus acidolphilus BT-1386 found in Micro-Cell probiotics has been shown to: • Decrease shedding of E. coli O157:H7 1 • Reduce re-infection of Salmonella 1 • Increase average daily gain 2 • Improve feed to gain 3 Ask your nutritionist about including Micro-Cell in your ration today! Learn more at Micro-Cell-US.com. 1 Tabe ES, Oloya J, Doetkott DK, Bauer ML, Gibbs PS, Khaitsa ML. Comparative effect of direct-fed microbials on fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in naturally infected feedlot cattle. J. Food Prot. May 2008; 3(71): 539-544. 2 Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Unpublished. United States. 1996. 3 Hutcheson D and Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Unpublished. United States. 1986. www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com Tel: 1.800.541.5598 Email: LAN_NA@lallemand.com ©2019. Micro-Cell is a registered trademark of Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Not all products are available in all markets nor are all claims allowed in all regions.