Cultivation

Forage use of sorghum

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Sorghum is a drought-tolerant forage crop used as grain, silage, hay, and green fodder. Various forms of sorghum allow for diversified diets for cattle, swine, and poultry, ensuring stable productivity under moisture deficit conditions.

In the reference 103 varieties crop Sorghum, where this is mentioned in the description.

In forage production, four main groups of sorghum are distinguished. Grain sorghum approaches maize in starch, protein, and lysine content and is used as a concentrated feed. Sweet sorghum is valued for the succulence of its stalks and is used primarily for silage production, outperforming maize in green mass yield by 30–40% under arid conditions. Forage (silage) sorghum is represented by tall, single-cut forms for whole-plant harvesting, while grassy forms, including sudangrass and hybrids, provide multi-cut green fodder, hay, and haylage.

A key advantage of sorghum is its adaptability to moisture deficit with an annual rainfall of 350–450 mm, whereas maize requires at least 500 mm. Although the energy value of sorghum silage may be lower than that of maize, it is characterized by good palatability and flavor. When using sorghum for green fodder, it is important to consider the risk of hydrocyanic acid accumulation, which significantly decreases by the waxy and full grain maturity stages, making the crop safe for inclusion in farm animal diets.

General information about the subject — on the page Forage purpose.

Sources8

Varieties of Sorghum mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.