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Cultivation

Silage and Haylage — Sudangrass

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase

Harvesting Sudangrass requires strict adherence to growth stages and cutting height to ensure regrowth and minimize the risks of cyanogenic toxicity.

In the reference 65 varieties crop Sudangrass, where this is mentioned in the description.

The maximum nutritional value of Sudangrass is achieved when harvested at the jointing stage or at the beginning of panicle emergence, with plants at a height of about one meter. For haylage, the optimal stage is considered to be budding or early flowering. During harvesting, it is critical to maintain a cutting height of 12–15 cm to preserve tillering nodes, growing points, and ensure rapid regrowth for subsequent cuts.

Due to high succulence, direct harvesting often results in a moisture content exceeding 70%, which necessitates the use of preservatives. For haylage, wilting in windrows to a moisture content of 45–55% using conditioners is recommended. Sudangrass contains cyanogenic glycosides; therefore, the risk of hydrocyanic acid accumulation persists even after ensiling, especially when harvesting young plants after frosts or during drought periods.

Compared to corn, Sudangrass silage is lower in starch content but allows for multiple cuts per season. Brown mid-rib (BMR) hybrids are characterized by lower lignin content, which improves forage digestibility. To balance nutritional value, Sudangrass is often planted in mixtures with legumes.

General information about the subject — on the page Silage and haylage.

Sources8

Varieties of Sudangrass 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.

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

KWS SAAT SE&CO.KGaA, DE

CZ HR IT
6 records

Mataco

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Los Prados S.A., Firmat AR

HU IT
6 records

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Vicente Trucillo

IT PT UA
6 records

Srem

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Institut za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo, Novi Sad, Srbija

SI
7 records

Susu

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

James Reneau Seed Co

HR IT SI
4 records

Sweet Sioux

Protection expired

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Acco Seed (US)

FR IT
4 records

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

FORRATEC ARGENTINA SA

IT
2 records

BMR-333

Terminated

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

GARRISON & TOWNSEND INC.

IT
2 records

Jumbo

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd

IT
5 records

Abetone

Terminated

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Mycogen Corporation

IT
3 records

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

DESERT SUN MARKETING CO. INC.

ES
3 records

Belle

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Alfaseed Kft, Budapest

HU
3 records

Vercors

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Cal/West Seeds (US)

FR
3 records

Suzy

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Fazekas Miklos

HU UA
4 records

Tiebreak

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Advanta Seeds International (MU)

FR RO
3 records

Nicol

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL

ES IT
3 records

GK Csaba

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Siklosine dr. Rajki Erzsebet / Kazi Ignac

HU
4 records

Hermes

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

CAL-WEST SEEDS

IT
3 records

Aneto

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

MMR GENETIC

ES
3 records

Lussi

Active

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE, FR

FR
2 records

Don Verdeo 46

Withdrawn

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Criadero y Semillero de Clasificaciones Murphy S.R.L.

IT SI
2 records

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd

IT
2 records

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

Gabonakutató Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft, Szeged

HU
2 records

Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase · Sudangrass

ADVANCE SEED PTY LTF

IT
2 records