Sponsored Post
Hybrid rye is making waves in the North American livestock industry, and for good reason. As more producers explore alternative feed ingredients, hybrid rye is proving to be a nutrient-rich, high-yielding, and flexible option that benefits both livestock and farm economics.
The nutritional profile of hybrid rye makes it a great fit for pigs, poultry, and cattle, says Laura Eastwood, Animal Nutrition Manager at KWS Seeds, in this interview with RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney. They discuss how hybrid rye is gaining traction.
“Hybrid rye as a grain crop works really well for all species,” Eastwood explains. “It’s highly digestible, it’s got a good amino acid balance, it’s high in energy, which makes it very easy to formulate a ration with.” Beyond that, its soluble fibre content supports gut health and can even reduce aggression in group-housed sows and tail biting in growing pigs.
The benefits don’t stop there. From an economic perspective, hybrid rye delivers impressive production returns. Eastwood highlights its high yield potential, outperforming conventional rye by 20-40% and wheat by 20-30%. “…when you factor that in that the fact that hybrid rye needs less crop inputs to grow it, you know, that itself is a return on investment,” she says. Since feed accounts for about two-thirds of a livestock producer’s cost of production, any savings here can significantly impact the bottom line.
Another advantage of hybrid rye is its versatility in farm management. Being a fall-planted crop, it helps balance workload and can even allow for double cropping in regions such as southern Alberta and southwestern Ontario. “Because it can be used as either a forage or a grain, that provides flexibility to a farmer if they’re not sure what they’re going to need for the next year,” Eastwood notes.
As research continues to uncover more nutritional and health benefits of hybrid rye, its role in livestock feed is set to grow. With increasing interest from nutritionists and producers, now might be the perfect time to explore how hybrid rye can fit into your operation.
For more information about KWS Seeds’ hybrid rye lineup, visit kws.com/ca
