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Triticale Is a Quality Fodder, Feed and Food for Small-scale Farmers in Bangladesh

M.E. Haque
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), House 18, Road 4, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka 1230

M.A. Sufian
Wheat Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Nashipur, Dinajpur

S.R. Waddington
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), House 18, Road 4, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka 1230

Z.I. Sarker
Wheat Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Nashipur, Dinajpur

N.R. Sarker
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341

C.A. Meisner
International Fertilizer Development Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In Bangladesh, fodder and feed scarcity is a major limiting factor from January to May for ruminant livestock and throughout the year for poultry. During 1999-2002, triticale was assessed as a dual-purpose crop to meet needs for quality fodder and grain during the lean season. High-quality grass fodder was obtained by cutting green triticale plants twice, at 35 and 50 days after seeding, while later the ratooning tillers produced grain. Fifty-four on-farm demonstrations conducted throughout Bangladesh in 2001-02 showed that 6-15 t/ha of fresh mass fodder can be produced from two cuts within 50 days. Triticale crops can then grow on to yield 1.1-2.4 t/ha of grain for poultry feed or human food. Tests in Bangladesh have shown triticale fodder quality to be similar to several forage legumes and well above grass forages, with 24.7% crude protein in the dry matter and metabolizable energy values of 10.6 MJ/kg dry matter. Triticale straw was twice as nutritious as rice or wheat straw and its grain contained more protein than other cereals. A program is underway to promote triticale as a high-quality fodder and feed for small-scale dairy and poultry production in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Triticale, Fodder, feed, Small-scale farmers, Bangladesh

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Food Safety and Security

Commodity: Fodder

Objectives:

Plants were allowed to ratoon and then grow to maturity for grain. Farmers were consulted for their assessment of performance and interest in growing triticale. So, the study was undertaken to justify its requirement.

Methodology:

Fodder Yield of Triticale WRF-7 fodder yields averaged 3 t/ha fresh mass with one cut and 11.1 t/ha fresh mass with two cuts in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. In 2001-02, the highest fodder yield for WRF-7 was obtained in Jessore (14.82 t/ha fresh mass) followed by Pabna (10.46 t/ha) and Kurigram (7.07 t/ha). Two cuts gave around 60% more fodder than one cut in all years. Across 44 experiment locations in 2001-02, the mean fodder yield for WRF-7 was 3.65 t/ha after one cut and 5.95 t/ha after two cuts. Cutting reduced the fodder yield of BAT-1 more than that of WRF-7. BAT-1 averaged 4.14 t/ha fresh mass compared with 5.95 t/ha for WRF-7. The highest fodder yield of BAT-1 was obtained in Faridpur (10.00 t/ha) followed by Jessore (7.00 t/ha) and Madaripur (6.50 t/ha).

Grain Yield of Triticale Grains yields averaging 1.54 t/ha were reported from previously cut triticale on several of the farms in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, compared with 1.83 t/ha for uncut triticale. In the larger scale study during 2001-02, the highest grain yield from WRF-7 after two cuts was obtained in Faridpur (3.20 t/ha), followed by Sirajgonj (2.45 t/ha) and Satkhira (2.28 t/ha). The highest grain yield of BAT-1 after two cuts was also obtained in Faridpur (2.60 t/ha) followed by Satkhira (2.00 t/ha) and Jessore (1.90 t/ha). The mean grain yield of BAT-1 (1.90 t/ha) was less than of WRF-7 (2.07 t/ha) when the green plants were cut once. The mean grain yield of WRF-7 after two cuts was 1.83 t/ha, about 30% more than the 1.4 t/ha from BAT-1. Thus WRF-7 produced both more grain and more fodder than BAT-1.

Nutritional Value of Triticale In 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, farmers asked about the nutritional value of triticale forage for cattle and the grain for poultry. Triticale green forage, hay, straw and grain from 2001-02 were analyzed for nutritional quality. Triticale fresh forage was very high quality, with 24.7% crude protein in the dry matter and metabolizable energy values of 10.6 MJ/kg dry matter. Triticale hay and straw were also high quality. Time of cutting (35 or 50 days after sowing) did not affect the nutritional quality of fresh triticale forage or hay. Triticale grain samples averaged 15.8% crude protein and had metabolizable energy values of 11.1 MJ/kg dry matter. Cutting had relatively little effect on the quality of triticale grain. The digestibility and energy content of triticale grain were similar irrespective of cutting. Grain from cut plants had slightly (but not significantly) lower crude protein contents. The ash content of grain from uncut plants was higher than the ash content of first or second cut grain.

Source of Information: Proceedings of the, 2006 - researchgate.net

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Based on the field experiments reported, dual-purpose triticale fits well into Bangladesh rice-based cropping systems to meet the demands for quality fodder and grain during the lean season. The crop grows well with little management, fertilizer and water. Staggered plantings of triticale from early November to mid-December will provide a steady lean season fodder supply. Fodder is obtained by cutting the green plants twice, at 35 and 50 days after seeding, while grain is produced from ratooning tillers. The on-farm experiments conducted throughout Bangladesh from 1999 to 2002 showed that 6-15 t/ha of fresh mass fodder can be produced from two cuts within 50 days. Triticale crops can then grow on to yield 1.1-2.4 t/ha of grain for poultry feed or human food. About 69% of the farmers involved in the work liked the fodder and grain yields from triticale and intended to grow it the next year. Some expressed interest to mix triticale with wheat flour for chapatti flat bread.

Triticale is a very high quality grass forage in Bangladesh, comparable to lathyrus, ipil-ipil (Leucaena spp.) and gliricidia leguminous forages (Gohl 1981). The protein content of its forage is three times higher than other grass forages such as napier grass, para or cynodon and its fibre content is one third that of lathyrus, napier grass and black gram (Table 3). Energy content is similar to grasses with 70% digestibility (AFRC 1995) and digestible organic matter and energy contents were similar to or higher than cynodon, cowpea, lathyrus, and napier grass (Table 3). Triticale straw was twice as nutritious as rice or wheat straw in Bangladesh. The protein content of triticale grain from the present study (17.8%) was similar to those reported by Flores and others (1994), but much higher than Belaid (1994) (12.5%). This is higher than that of wheat, maize, or barley grain making triticale an attractive substitute to those grains for livestock and poultry in Bangladesh.

Thus, dual-purpose triticale has the potential to significantly reduce fodder and feed scarcity in Bangladesh, increasing smallholder milk and meat production. To promote triticale as a lean season high-quality fodder and feed for small-scale dairy and poultry production in Bangladesh, we began a new project in 2005 with financial support from DANIDA. The project involves government agricultural research and extension agencies, international research centres, milk marketing organizations and farmer groups in a program of whole family training on the production and utilization of triticale in four districts of northwest Bangladesh. Initial results are presented in two further papers at this symposium.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings