I grow spring oats and winter triticale (336) on about 1/4 acre for winter forage planted in late August/early September. Triticale is a very fast growing cross between wheat and rye that contains more lysine than corn and more crude protein than either corn or oats. It also has better amino acid composition, fiber content, palatability and more metabolizable energy.
Here in the mid-Atlantic we have average winter temps of about 20 degrees (F). The oats are good down just below 20 degrees and the Tritcale is hardy to below 0.
The reason for planting them together is because the oats will come up quickly and are available for intensive grazing in October, while the triticale sprouts but remains in the understory until winter sets in. If a really severe winter hits us it'll kill most of the oats, but the triticale simply goes dormant while remaining viable to break dormancy at the end of February.
ETA: I might also try sprouts during times when I'm letting forage recover or when we're snowed in. Sounds yummy.
Here in the mid-Atlantic we have average winter temps of about 20 degrees (F). The oats are good down just below 20 degrees and the Tritcale is hardy to below 0.
The reason for planting them together is because the oats will come up quickly and are available for intensive grazing in October, while the triticale sprouts but remains in the understory until winter sets in. If a really severe winter hits us it'll kill most of the oats, but the triticale simply goes dormant while remaining viable to break dormancy at the end of February.
ETA: I might also try sprouts during times when I'm letting forage recover or when we're snowed in. Sounds yummy.
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