Sorghum sudanense

Sudan grass

Slender annual with leafy stems up to 3 m high that grows on a variety of soils in areas with 500-900 mm of rain annually. Drought resistant. Cultivated primarily for hay or as a pioneer grass. With good fertility, yields two to five cuttings of very palatable fodder. May contain prussic acid when green.

Usually grazed at 60-70 cm. Cut for hay somewhat later, normally at flowering and to about 10 cm from the pound. Seldom used for silage. Valued in areas with hot dry summers for ease or establishment and for its ability to recover after grazing or cutting.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, 20 cm, Chile						21.6	6.8	31.0	8.5	2.9	50.8	315
Fresh, 40 cm, Chile						21.6	6.9	28.5	9.4	2.5	52.7	"
Fresh, 80 cm, Chile						21.6	7.3	30.2	9.4	3.0	50.1	"
Fresh, 60 cm, South Africa						19.3	15.4	23.4	9.9	3.7	47.6	489
Fresh, 65 cm, South Africa						22.1	13.1	24.1	10.4	3.0	49.4	"
Fresh, 80 cm, South Africa						20.0	11.1	26.4	9.5	3.1	49.9	"
Fresh, 90 cm, South Africa						22.9	9.3	28.7	9.3	2.9	49.8	"
Fresh, 100 cm, South Africa						22.0	9.3	29.1	9.5	1.8	50.3	"
Fresh, 125 cm, South Africa						24.3	8.0	32.1	9.1	1.6	49.2	"
Hay, South Africa							7.3	35.7	8.9	2.0	46.1	"
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Fresh, 60 cm					Sheep		77.8	73.3	65.6	81.3	2.75	489
Fresh, 65 cm					Sheep		74.8	72.0	62.7	76.8	2.57	"
Fresh, 80 cm					Sheep		70.8	68.6	63.0	74.5	2.49	"
Fresh, 90 cm					Sheep		65.9	66.4	66.7	72.4	2.41	"
Fresh, 100 cm					Sheep		64.3	63.6	46.2	70.1	2.27	"
Fresh, 125 cm					Sheep		59.3	63.3	40.4	67.5	2.19	"
Hay					Sheep		47.7	62.9	54.1	62.0	2.08	"