What winter cereal handles acid soils and wet patches better than oats?
We recommend our Joey Triticale. It tolerates low pH and waterlogging, and suits sandy through to heavy soils in 400mm+ rainfall areas. It is a wheat and rye hybrid, combining the hardiness of rye with the productivity of wheat, giving reliable winter forage for grazing, hay or silage where other cereals struggle.
How much triticale seed per hectare for grazing?
Sow our Joey Triticale at 60–100 kg/ha, using the higher end when you want dense early grazing and the lower end in drier conditions. It suits areas with 400mm+ rainfall. Sow in autumn after a reliable break for the best winter feed.
What's a reliable, high-yielding cereal for hay and silage in the Great Southern?
We recommend Joey Triticale: it is versatile, reliable and high yielding, and makes quality hay and silage. It suits areas with 400mm+ rainfall and sandy to heavy soils, which fits much of the Great Southern, and it tolerates acid soils, waterlogging and drought. Sow it with a legume such as vetch or field peas to lift protein.
I need fast winter feed for sheep after the break. What should I sow?
We recommend Joey Triticale for fast growth and excellent winter forage. It establishes quickly after the autumn break and has good drought tolerance, so it holds up if follow-up rain is patchy. Graze once plants are well anchored and won't pull out, then rotate stock to allow regrowth.
Is Joey Triticale any good as a cover crop?
Yes. Joey Triticale is a strong cover crop choice. Its fast growth gives quick ground cover to reduce erosion and suppress weeds, and its tolerance of acid soil and waterlogging means it establishes where oats may struggle. It suits sandy to heavy soils in 400mm+ rainfall areas.
What can I sow with triticale to lift feed quality?
We suggest pairing Joey Triticale with a legume such as our Common Vetch, Popany Vetch or Coogee Field Peas. The legume lifts protein and fixes nitrogen, while the triticale provides bulk and a frame for the legume to climb. Reduce the triticale rate in a mix. Our Mix & Match Custom Pasture Blends service can put the blend together for you.
Can cattle get nitrate poisoning on green triticale?
Yes, it can happen: like other young cereals, triticale can accumulate nitrate, especially after frost, drought or slow growth. With Joey Triticale, we recommend introducing hungry cattle gradually, feeding hay beforehand and avoiding heavily stressed crops. If you are unsure, have the crop tested before grazing.
Which cereal suits a paddock that's both drought-prone and acidic?
Joey Triticale is our pick. It is known for good drought tolerance and acid soil tolerance, so it suits tough paddocks. Its rye parentage adds hardiness, and its wheat parentage adds yield and feed quality. It performs best with 400mm+ rainfall, and liming still helps on very acidic soils.
How should I graze Joey Triticale for regrowth?
We recommend grazing Joey Triticale once plants are well anchored, leaving enough leaf and stem base for recovery. Give the crop time to regrow before grazing again, and remove stock before stem elongation if you plan to lock it up for hay or silage. Rotational or strip grazing makes the best use of the feed.
Joey Triticale vs Cereal Ryecorn: which should I sow?
It depends on your soil and goals. Cereal Rye (Ryecorn) is favoured for light, infertile, acidic sands and erosion control. Joey Triticale combines rye's hardiness with wheat's productivity, so it gives higher yields and quality feed for grazing, hay and silage on sandy to heavy soils with 400mm+ rainfall. We can help you match the cereal to your paddock.
