THE USE OF TRITICALE IN ANIMAL NUTRITION .3. RUMINANTS

The nutritive value and the use of triticale in diets for ruminants are here reviewed. The mean metabolisable or net energy values of triticale and wheat and their digestible protein contents are similar but higher than those given in the literature for barley. Triticale in diets for ruminants compares favourably with other cereals like maize, sorgho, wheat or barley. The palatability for the new varieties is good. Compared with maize in finishing diets for steers, triticale gives leaner carcasses and meat. When used at a very high level in the diet, some precautions should be taken in order to avoid ruminal acidosis, liver disorders, urolithiasis, etc. In our economic conditions, the use of triticale is essentially linked to its price and also to the price of cereal substitutes.