Regional Silage Variety Trials: Barley, Oats, Spring Wheat, and Triticale

2 days ago

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Funded by RDAR and Coordinated by the Alberta Seed Processors and Western Crop Innovations

The Alberta Regional Silage Variety Trials (RSVT) play a vital role in supporting Alberta’s cattle industry by helping ensure a steady supply of quality feed. The trials offer producers objective, unbiased information on how different cereal crop varieties perform for silage and green feed, including yield and key agronomic traits. Managed by the Alberta Regional Variety Advisory Committee (ARVAC) in partnership with Alberta Grains, the program evaluates barley, oat, wheat, triticale, fall rye, and corn using strict, uniform testing methods. All data that makes it to the Alberta Seed Guide undergoes careful auditing to ensure accuracy. Each year, the findings are shared in the Alberta Seed Guide, delivered to every rural household in the province. This program benefits the entire seed sector - from plant breeders and seed companies to seed growers and livestock farmers. PCBFA hosted an RSVT trial site in 2025 and was the lone test site in the Peace Country.

What We Did

We tested barley, oat, spring wheat, and triticale varieties at the Fairview Research Farm in Fairview, Alberta. Table 1 presents the site's history, the field operations performed, and the data collected. Each crop species was tested separately using a randomized complete block design with three replications in small plots measuring 8 m x 1.8 m. Seeding was carried out using a 6-row Fabro® plot drill equipped with disc-type openers on 23 cm (9") row spacing, complete with mid-row fertilizer banding. Seeding rates were based on target plant populations: 300 plants per square m for barley and oats, 350 plants per square m for spring wheat, and 370 plants per square m for spring triticale (see Table 1 for the equivalent of the seeding rates in bu/ac).

Results

Field Notes

The growing season (May–August) long-term average (LTA, 30+ years) mean air temperature and total precipitation at the site were 11.6°C and 8", respectively. In 2025, the mean air temperature was 17.2°C with a total rainfall of 5" (almost 6°C higher and 3" lower than the LTA). Crop emergence was high for all trials. AAC Wesley oats was observed to be an early heading variety. No lodging was observed in all three silage variety trial plots.

Barley Silage Trial

Data on the barley silage trial is shown in Table 2.

Plant Heights and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Barley plant heights ranged from 48 to 59 cm, with WCI Fortify the tallest variety, while FB23608 and CDC Durango were the shortest. The NDVI, a widely used metric for assessing vegetation health and density, ranged between 0.22 and 0.38, with no significant differences between treatments.

Silage Yield

Silage moisture content (data not shown) ranged from 56-60%, while yields ranged from 14,500 to 16,200 lbs and varied significantly across treatments, with CDC Durango having the highest yields (122% compared to the check variety).

Silage Quality

Barley silage quality was moderate to high with ranges of crude protein (CP, 10-13%); ADF (21-22%); NDF (43-45%); TDN (67-69%), and IVTD30 (65-67%) and only CP varied significantly (p < 0.05) between the varieties.

Table 2. Silage yield, height, NDVI, and quality of barley silage varieties

Wheat/Triticale Silage Trial

Data on the Spring Wheat and Triticale silage trial is shown in Table 3.

Plant Heights and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Plant heights ranged from 48-59 cm (Wheat) and 65-74 cm (Triticale) with no significant differences between varieties, while Wheat varieties on average had higher (0.25) NDVI values compared to Triticale (0.22).

Silage Yield

Silage moisture contents ranged from 51 to 56% while yields ranged from 8,700 to 11,800 lbs/ac, with the Triticale varieties averaging more than the Wheat varieties. No Wheat variety yielded more than the Wheat check variety (AC Sadash), while the two Triticale varieties (T301 and T307) yielded more, 110% and 111% respectively, than their check variety.

Silage Quality

Silage quality was moderate to high, with crude protein ranging from 11–13% and did not differ significantly between treatments. In contrast, NDF and TDN (Energy), differed significantly between treatments, while ADF and IVTD30 did not vary significantly between treatments.

Drought-stressed Wheat/Triticale plots (08/06/2025)

Table 3. Silage yield, height, NDVI, and quality of wheat/triticale silage varieties

Oat Silage Trial

Data on the Oat silage trial is shown in Table 4. We were unable to obtain data on oat silage quality.

Plant Heights and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Oat plant heights ranged from 66-93 cm and varied insignificantly between varieties, while NDVI values were comparatively higher than the other species (Barley, Wheat, Triticale), with a range of 0.36–0.40, but did not vary significantly between varieties.

Silage Yield

Silage yields were similar across the tested oat varieties, ranging from 11,000 to 13,000 lbs/ac. The ORe Boost variety yielded 107% of the check.

Conclusion, Implications, and Future Plan

Despite reported drought conditions during the growing season, appreciable silage yields were obtained.

CDC Durango demonstrated superior Barley yield without compromising quality, while Triticale varieties, particularly T301 and T307, clearly outperformed AB Sunbeam, the Triticale check variety. Silage quality remained moderate to high across species, with crude protein meeting most of the nutrient requirements of first and second-trimester gestating beef cows, while the energy requirements of third-trimester beef cows were met by barley and wheat/triticale varieties tested here.

The plan is to continue the trials next year (2026) with the same varieties, with the possible addition of new silage varieties.