Canadian breeding program yields new wheat feed variety

The spring wheat variety, WFT603, is the first to come out of the four-year research project led by the Western Feed Grain Development Board (WFGD) to develop new feed wheat varieties that are tailored to the growing conditions in this region. ​

“The disease and environmental challenges that adversely affect high wheat yields in Western Canada include fusarium head blight, aster yellow disease, high salinity in soils and flooding post seeding,” ​Haylee Hargreaves, secretary of the farmer-led breeding program, told FeedNavigator. 

Since 2005, the co-op has been conducting a breeding program and screening trials to develop varieties that are tolerant of or resistant to these adverse effects. ​

“Minimizing the negative effects will ensure that Western Canadian wheat producers can increase farm returns,” ​she explained. ​

A win-win situation​

Besides developing varieties that are beneficial for farmers, WFGD is focusing on providing end users with a dependable feedstock.

“Western Canadian livestock producers try to source their feed wheat locally to lower their transportation costs on grain. Due to fluctuations in markets, crop rotations, disease pressure and so on, they are not always able to source local feedstocks,”​ explained Hargreaves. 

Wheat with high vomitoxin, caused by fusarium head blight, can adversely affect livestock. One of the objectives of the co-op therefore is to provide varieties with better disease resistance. ​

“If livestock producers can source good quality wheat from local grain producers who are also benefitting from the increased yields, then it is a win-win for both industries. Very few breeding programs or companies are focused on primary producers as well as domestic feed end users but WFGD believes it is important to address the concerns of both parties,”​ said Hargreaves. 

It is using traditional plant breeding techniques so any resulting varieties will not be considered genetically modified and can be used in all livestock operations. ​

“The co-op operates a full scale wheat breeding program which includes crossing, generation advancement, disease screening and so on. Field trials are conducted at various locations across Western Canada to ensure that adequate data is collected on WFGD wheat lines,”​ said Hargreaves. ​

First seeds ready for planting​

The co-op received registration of the first variety, WFT603, in February 2013. WFT603 is an awned, medium height, general purpose spring wheat that offers high yield potential (102% of AC Andrew, 105% of 5702PR and 104% of Pasteur). 

In terms of disease resistance, field trials found that it offers moderate resistance to fusarium head blight, moderate to intermediate resistance to stem rust, intermediate resistance to loose smut, resistance to leaf rust and good resistance to common bunt. 

The seed will be available for commercial planting in spring 2015.

The WFGD co-op was formed in 2005 by three farmers with a dream to develop feed wheat varieties they could use on their own farms for livestock feed instead of relying on default feed wheat varieties.