Nutritive Value of Triticale for the Nonruminant

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to compare the feeding value of triticale with that of corn for the rat and the chicken, and to observe the growth response of weanling pigs when triticale was supplemented with soybean meal. When triticale was compared with corn on an isonitrogenous basis, the nutritive value for the growing rat was comparable. When the comparison was made on an equal weight basis, triticale was superior to corn for the rat and the chick. Diets made up of triticale as the only source of protein were inferior to isonitrogenous corn-soy diets for the rat. The two grains produced equal performance when diets provided adequate amounts of dietary protein for chicks; however, the amount of soybean meal needed to balance triticale diets was smaller. It appears that triticale can replace corn on an equal weight basis for the feeding of growing swine. Two major limitations for the use of triticale as a feed grain seem to be acceptability and possible contamination with ergot. Copyright © 1974. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1974 by American Society of Animal Science.