WESTERN Australia's Government has invested in a new, locally-developed forage crop could reap rewards for Western Australian grain and livestock producers.
The new multipurpose triticale variety, developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), will appeal to sheep and cattle producers in medium and low rainfall environments wanting to maximise stockfeed options on challenging soils, according to DPIRD.
Named Dyna-Trit 1143, the new versatile variety is the result of an international collaboration with the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc.
The selection and commercial release of this variety involved field trials at Merredin, Wongan Hills, Manjimup and DPIRD's Katanning Research Station over several seasons.
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A unique characteristic of Dyna-Trit 1143 is that it does not have awns, the bristle-like growth in the triticale head, making it more suitable for direct grazing, silage or hay production, while still being suitable for traditional grain harvest.
WA Agriculture and Food Minister, Jackie Jarvis, said: "We see great potential for Dyna-Trit 1143, and triticale more generally, as a robust option for both grain growers and livestock producers, particularly on marginal soils, and in medium to low rainfall areas.
"This initiative is part of our investment to help industry respond to a changing climate and deliver year-round feed options for sheep and cattle growers across WA's diverse environments."
