Sorghum bicolor

Sorghum (forage)

A species composing a wide range of cultivated sorghums (grain sorghums and sweet sorghums). When grain sorghums are grown for cereal, the stalks may be used as animal feed. Sweet sorghums may be grown as a summer fodder crop where the temperature is too high and the rainfall insufficient for maize, in this case it is preferably mixed with a climbing legume, such as lablab. It is cut when the grain is in dough stage and the feed value of fodder is maximum. Some varieties contain prussic acid, which is destroyed by ensiling or curing for hay; however, care must be taken when sorghum is used as a soiling crop or for pasture. The danger is greatest in the second growth following the harvesting of the first crop or when the young plants are stunted, particularly during periods of drought or following light frost.

Also some grain sorghums are of interest as fodder plants, although they usually yield only about two thirds as much forage as fodder varieties. If the entire plant is to be used for silage, it should be cut before the seeds mature; otherwise a large portion of the small hard seeds will be wasted as they are not easily digested. The durras have little forage value because the stalks are dry and sparsely leafed. The hegaris can be regarded as dual-purpose sorghum; being suitable for grain production and having value as fodder. This is also true of the kaffirs, which have even juicier stems. The milos have a limited fodder value.

Hybrid sorghum (S. bicolor x S. sudanense) has sweet juicy stems and is suitable for ensiling. A number of hybrid cultivars exist; one of the more valued is sweet Sudan grass.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, mature, Peru						23.3	8.2	22.6	5.8	1.5	61.9	370
Fresh, post-ripe, 200 cm,
Tanzania						20.0	7.6	32.6	7.8	1.5	50.5	175
Hay, Sudan							4.2	32.1	7.9	0.8	55.0	98
Hay, without stalks, Nigeria						94.0	3.0	35.0	8.0	1.9	52.1	58
Straw, Tanzania							4.3	37.2	10.3	1.3	46.9	175
Straw, India						93.7	3.7	41.8	9.4	1.1	44.0	378
Silage, sweet variety,
dough stage, USA						26.6	7.5	26.4	6.1	2.5	57.5	305
Silage, dual-purpose
variety, dough stage, USA						24.4	7.3	27.5	6.0	2.8	56.4	"
Silage, grain variety,
mature, USA						30.4	8.0	22.8	6.8	3.0	59.4	"
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Fresh, mature					Sheep		50.6	54.3	44.9	59.0	2.00	370
Fresh, post-ripe					Sheep		56.6	68.1	66.7	64.2	2.24	175
Hay					Sheep		37.6	66.0	58.3	62.9	2.12	98
Hay, without stalks					Cattle		6.7	54.3	31.6	46.4	1.61	58
Straw					Oxen		30.5	62.0	89.3	56.3	1.93	175
Straw					Zebu		31.6	74.4	38.3	50.3	2.00	378
Silage, sweet variety					Sheep		54.6	49.0	76.0	69.7	2.24	305
Silage, dual-purpose
variety					Sheep		53.2	53.1	77.8	68.9	2.27	"
Silage, grain variety					Sheep		58.0	50.2	80.7	72.7	2.37	"