This paper summarizes recent research findings on two novel feed crops, triticale and zero-tannin (ZT) fababean. It also provides a perspective as to where the new feed industry in North America is heading. The primary driver for considering triticale as feed grain was its higher yield than wheat. The second driver was its alluded “higher” net energy value compared to corn. Therefore, triticale should outperform wheat in hog diets. The objectives of the study on triticale was to evaluate its feeding value as a replacement for wheat (HRS or CPS), and to compare the performance of weaned pigs offered different triticale varieties. For the overall trial and the first three weeks, replacing wheat with triticale did not affect daily feed disappearance or weight gain. Pigs fed the triticale diets had better overall feed efficiency than those fed either the HRS or CPS wheat diet. AC Ultima was the most comparable triticale variety to CPS and HRS wheat in terms of animal response. However, pigs utilized more energy and retained more protein, calcium and phosphorus from all four varieties of triticale compared to both varieties of wheat. The other aspect of this paper summarizes the recent findings of using ZT fababean in swine diets. The primary driver for considering the use of ZT fababean was yield. In years with adequate rainfall, it out-yields pea in the Black and Grey Wooded soils zones of central and north-western Alberta (Park et al 1999), where pork expansion is more likely to occur. The second driver was air nitrogen fixing. In contrast to pea, dry bean, chickpea and lentil, ZT fababean allows air nitrogen-fixing beyond blooming until the plant dries (Park et al 1999). The third driver was its high energy and protein content, which may displace imported soybean meal (Dening et al 2004). The objective of one study was to evaluate the feeding value of ZT Fababean by including 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% of ZT fababean in the pigs diet. Surprisingly young pigs tolerated well up 40% without detrimental effect on performance. The primary objective of the latest trial with ZT fababean was to generate additional performance data on a commercial scale. This trial also compared the performance of hogs fed ZT fababean not only against those fed imported soybean meal again, but also for the first time, against hogs fed the locally grown field pea. Triticale and ZT fababean have not only proven to be promising feedstuffs in their raw form, but offer the potential to be further value-added as food, feed and bio-industrial co-products. Triticale grain may be segregated into several components
(protein, starch, fibre) prior to fermenting the starch to ethanol resulting in a more efficient process than the current fermentation scheme producing high fibre distillers grain. The potential for a whole array of co-products make this triticale initiative very enticing. Also, ZT fababean has been successfully fractionated into starch and high protein concentrates. No high cost wet separation followed by sophisticated spray-drying is required. In this low cost and fast process, we take 28% crude protein ZT fababean to a 70% crude protein concentrate in minutes! We hope the protein concentrates will find markets in breakfast bars, high-protein snacks, aquaculture, pet foods, and baby animal diets. The starch fractions will find markets in the bakery, paint and paper industry among a few. In summary, our excitement with triticale and ZT fababean is not merely founded on their resulting animal performance when fed in raw form. Triticale offers higher yield, disease and drought tolerance, as well as high net energy for swine. ZT fababean offers higher yield, longer N-fixing, as well as high energy and protein. The potential to produce more lean pork per unit of land is there. And both crops can be further value-added as co- products of interest to the food, feed and bio-industrial industries.