Timothy hay, a widely cultivated forage crop, is a staple feed for horses and livestock due to its high-quality, fiber-rich profile. Known for promoting digestive health and supporting bone strength through balanced calcium and phosphorus levels, it’s an essential dietary component for animals requiring high-fiber, moderate-energy diets.
A groundbreaking new variety, CDC Tiznow, has been introduced by Dr. Bill Biligetu from the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. This early-maturing timothy hay variety boasts high seed and forage yields, making it a significant innovation for Western Canada’s forage sector. Notably, CDC Tiznow is the first timothy grass variety developed and released in this region.
The variety was meticulously developed through a natural cross-pollination process using seven synthetic lines. Original nursery materials were assessed for critical traits, including vigor, greenness, growth habit, and resistance to disease. Superior plants were selected to create the new synthetic lines, culminating in the release of CDC Tiznow.
Dr. Biligetu named the variety after Tiznow, a celebrated American Thoroughbred racehorse. Tiznow, the American Horse of the Year in 2000, is the only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice, a feat achieved in 2000 and 2001. The horse’s legacy of strength and endurance inspired the naming, highlighting CDC Tiznow’s superior forage potential, particularly for high-energy animals like racehorses and polo horses.
“This name ties the qualities of the hay directly to the attributes of an exceptional racehorse known for strength and performance,” the CDC said in a statement. By associating CDC Tiznow with a winning legacy, the new variety promises to set a benchmark for timothy hay production in Western Canada.
