Creating food plots that attract white-tailed deer while providing substantial nutrition is a yearly challenge for wildlife managers and landowners. Cereal grains like wheat, rye, and oats are common choices for fall and winter forage, but a hybrid grain called triticale has become a compelling alternative. This cool-season annual is increasingly tested as a primary food plot component due to its unique blend of hardiness and forage quality. The central question is whether this engineered grain is effectively utilized and preferred by deer.
What is Triticale?
Triticale is a synthetic small grain, created by crossing two different cereal plants: wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale). The resulting plant combines the high yield potential and forage quality typically associated with wheat. It also possesses the superior disease resistance, drought tolerance, and adaptability to marginal soils inherited from rye. This genetic combination makes it a resilient choice for food plots where soil quality or weather conditions may be less than ideal.
Palatability and Nutritional Value for Deer
Deer generally demonstrate a positive utilization of triticale, often consuming it similarly to other common cereal grains like oats and wheat. The plant’s palatability is considered superior to straight cereal rye because it typically has a lower concentration of bitter compounds.
Triticale offers a significant nutritional advantage, particularly during the late-season period when deer need high-quality forage. When actively growing in its vegetative state, the forage can deliver high crude protein levels, which is crucial for antler development and body condition maintenance. It provides a dense, digestible food source that can support deer through the stressful winter months better than poor-quality browse.
Compared to winter wheat, triticale shares a similar attractive forage quality but often maintains its productivity longer into the spring. Its rye heritage grants it greater resilience against cold temperatures and various pests, such as aphids, which can sometimes reduce the grazing window of wheat. This extended grazing period provides a steady source of nutrition, making it a valuable middle ground between the robust but less palatable rye and the more preferred but less hardy wheat.
Optimal Timing and Planting Considerations
To maximize triticale’s value as a deer forage, the optimal planting window is in the late summer to early fall, generally from mid-August through mid-October, depending on the region. Planting during this time allows the grain to establish a deep root system before the onset of winter dormancy. A well-established plot will green up faster and provide an earlier, more robust food source when the weather warms.
When planting for maximum forage and grazing, a seeding rate of 75 to 100 pounds per acre is recommended for a dense stand. The seed should be drilled or broadcast and lightly incorporated to a depth of approximately one to two inches for the best germination success. Triticale requires more soil fertility than cereal rye to reach its full potential, particularly needing adequate nitrogen to support the high-protein forage growth.
This grain’s excellent cold tolerance means it can remain green and accessible as a standing food source late into the winter, even under snow cover. By staying vegetative and available when other food sources have died back, triticale offers a critical resource during periods of extreme nutritional stress.