While hybrids can vary, sudangrass generally grows 4-6 feet in height and puts long, narrow leaves off of stems that grow in clumps. 40-day intervals. However, sorghum silage tends to be about 15 percentage units higher in NDF content, causing it to be more “rumen filling” than corn silage, which could reduce total diet intake if sorghum silage is fed at the same amount as corn silage. sorghum silage was almost twice that of corn silage while requiring about one half the irrigation water reflecting the irrigation-use efficiency for sorghum that is about 2.5 times that of corn (Figure 1; TAWC, 2007). Sorghum Sudangrass is a cross between sorghum and sudangrass with a finer stem. Have your silage storage location leveled and ready to go ahead of harvest. The smaller stems give it better drying characteristics than other sorghums for hay making. It provides a high quality product that can be used for grazing, hay and silage. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Surpass BMR6 Sorghum Sudangrass can be used for hay, baleage, silage, greenchop, or directly grazed. Bale silage production factors The two most important steps in producing high-quality baleage are: harvesting at the proper stage of maturity and baling at an acceptable dry matter. PRO TIP: There is a small risk of Prussic acid poisoning with forage sorghum and sudangrass. Recently, several producers successfully made high - quality "baleage" from sorghum/sudangrass. Special silage varieties have been developed that are taller than the dwarf grain varieties. They are used primarily for forage, grazing, green chop, silage and hay. Sorghum silage is harvested between the milk and dough grain stage. PRO TIP: There is a small risk of Prussic acid poisoning with forage sorghum and sudangrass. In a survey of data collected on pasture-grazed dairy cattle in Australia, the incidence of DA was only 0.06%.22 Markusfeld23 (1989) found hypovitaminosis A in a group of dairy heifers, of which 18.5% had LDA. These heifers were confined within a barn and fed a ration consisting of orange peels, cotton peels, broiler manure, barley, and corn straw (vitamin A estimate 4750 IU total daily intake; NRC recommendation 75 IU/kg body weight/day or ≈ 45,000 IU for a 600-kg (1320-lb) cow24). •Forage sorghum silage yields have been similar to those of corn while using 30 percent less irrigation water •Sorghums will yield 1.75 to 2.5 tons of biomass per one inch of irrigation water •Sorghum silage yield increased approximately 0.75 ton/acre (at 65 percent moisture) for … Sorghum-sudangrass is a warm-season annual grass developed as a hybrid cross between sorghum and sudangrass. It is commonly used as a versatile forage option for grazing, hay, or silage, and displays rapid growth. These studies are important to emphasize that concentrate feeding, alone, is not the cause of DA. Forage sorghums are best suited for silage. B. Venkatesh Bhat, in Breeding Sorghum for Diverse End Uses, 2019. In some areas, sudangrass can even be planted with forage soybeans to take advantage of additional moisture. It is a warm season annual grass and will regrow after each harvest. Safened seed is required if using Dual or Bicep-like herbicides containing s-metolachlor. Sorghums can be conserved as chopped pit silage or wrapped bale silage, utilized fresh as green chop, or grazed. Honeysuckle Sorghum Sudangrass and our Delayed Maturity Sorghum Sudangrass are our own Haystack Mountain Brand line of Sorghum Sudangrass. Silage should not be used without some hay also being fed. Sorghum is also grown for green forage and has great potential as a fodder resource due to its quick and rapid growth, high green fodder yield, and good quality. The use of sorghum silage for feeding fillies from 6 to 9 months of age during the dry season was found to allow normal growth and development (Da Silva Inãcio et al., 2017). Sudangrass hybrids are available that are slightly larger and higher yielding. Other improvements: Grain sorghum forage could be improved by increasing some or all of stem digestibility, stem sugar content, DM yield, stay-green attributes, and drought resistance. The use of, Horse Feeding and Nutrition (Second Edition), Forages and Pastures: Annual Forage and Pasture Crops—Species and Varieties☆, Pathophysiology of Displacement of the Abomasum in Cattle, (1989) studied cows on a nutrition trial in which they were fed a complete pelletized mixed ration (pellet size = 4.8 mm) containing 15% to 20% crude protein and 30% alfalfa. Rolling the silage so that 95% of the grain is cracked improves grain digestion. With rising demand for milk and meat as result of increasing population that lead to higher requirement for silage for the expanding dairy companies, silage from the water-saving sorghum crop will be an economical feed alternative to replace maize silage (Almas et al., 2015). Forage Sorghum and Sudangrass: Two Alternatives for Livestock and More, sorghum often comes up as a cost-effective alternative, USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Ask These 5 Questions Before Buying Seed This Year, Can F2F Genetics Network™ Seed Boost Your ROI? The optimum pH ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 (4). Sorghum × sudangrass are not suitable for hay because of the thickness of their stems, which are difficult to cure or to crush and crimp. The conclusion so far is that utilization of sorghum forage as a total replacement for maize silage in the diets of lactating cows is possible in some cases. K.B.R.S. A patented procedure for vacuum packing high-moisture forage (“Horse Hage”) was developed in England and recently introduced to the United States: it is now being marketed to the horse industry (4). Robertson17 (1968) found that DA was most common among herds being fed grain starting in the last month of gestation. Sorghum-Sudan grass hybrids fit best in summer feeding programs. Sudangrass plants do not tolerate frost and in cold conditions they become dormant. Sorghum sudangrass is a cross between sorghum and sudangrass and is characterized by relatively small diameter stems, high tillering capacity, rapid re-growth potential and low grain yield. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids produce about the same amount of feed as sudangrass when used for pasture. Sweet sorghum or sorgo has tall sweet juicy stems with small grain heads and is used mostly for silage. Forage sorghum, sudangrass, and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids (sudex) are exceptionally heat and drought tolerant annual crops that are used as cover crops, pasture, hay, and silage. Many who use silage feed it to mature idle horses, mares not in foal, and horses not used extensively for work or riding. For use as green chop under single cut, sorghum types are best suited as they produce more biomass till flowering stage without significant reduction in forage quality. These varieties have smaller diameter stalks,which improve drydown for hay and palatability for cattle versus forage sorghums normally used for silage. Protein content is similar to that of maize but energy content is usually less than that of maize. Sudan grass tillers extensively and regrows rapidly. (See page 97 in the 2013 Guide.) Multiple cut: Sudan grass (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench var. Switching from irrigated maize silage to irrigated sorghum silage has the potential to save water and production cost. Horses are very susceptible to spoiled or moldy silage. Unlike forage sorghum, a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid will regrow following harvest by cutting or grazing. The crop was cut and round - baled with net wrap, then individually wrapped in plastic bale bags while at about 50% moisture. This is because of the lower grain-to-forage ratios of the sorghums, and also because the seed coat is harder than corn and far more grain passes undigested through the animal. Heads ripen from the top down, so evaluate seeds from the middle of the head to determine soft dough stage. Production of forage sorghum for silage requires significantly less water than corn silage. DM yields can be as high as those of maize but the yield of total digestible nutrients is much lower. Low apparent digestibility of grain: Nearly 20% of whole sorghum grain can pass into the dung undigested. Cows fed the pelletized ration were 10.8 times more likely to suffer LDA compared with cows fed a ration of. Unfortunately, it is difficult to produce mold-free silage. Although sorghum of any type can be used for hay or grazing, a sorghum-sudangrass cross or a sudangrass is usually a best choice. Presumably, this would cause abomasal atony and predisposition to displacement. Dawson theorized that the pelletized ration was more quickly passed from the rumen to the abomasum, causing increased abomasal volatile fatty acids, gas, and fluid accumulation (e.g., abomasal fermentation). Sudangrass is therefore recommended for either grazing or forage conservation. Single cut: Grain sorghums and sweet sorghums (forage sorghum) are usually harvested for silage in a single cut. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(1667865, 'f405b29f-26f8-41e1-a641-6391192471aa', {}); Forage sorghum is a tall plant—usually growing to heights of 8-12 feet—that generates a great deal of biomass. sudanense). BMR hybrid forages offer real improvements so that production and quality are similar to that of maize when managed efficiently. The BMR forage sorghums are lower in lignin content in the leaves and stalks, and the quality, on average, is better than conventional sorghums. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids have higher stalks than sudangrass and are normally harvested for green chop or silage but may be used for pasture or hay if chilled at a high seeding rate and harvested at immature stages (18 to 24 in. It can cause digestive upsets and even death. Other problems encountered included anasarca, ataxia, and abortion. Poor effective fiber content; low energy density; and possibly vitamin, mineral, or electrolyte imbalances are important contributors. Planting sudangrass and forage … They are thick stemmed and hard to dry for hay but they can supply ample yields of silage, green chop and pasture when perennial grasses are slowing down or going dormant. Stems and tillers are finer and more suitable for grazing, and dry down for haymaking more readily than other sorghum types. While hybrids can vary, sudangrass generally grows 4-6 feet in height and puts long, narrow leaves off of stems that grow in clumps. Hybrid forage sorghums are usually developed from a forage sorghum female and a Sudan grass male plant. The maximum growth height is 15 feet tall and typically has small seed heads. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids with the brown midrib (BMR) gene will produce forage with higher fiber digestibility, making it more like corn silage. Tannin content: Varieties with low levels of tannin in both grain and plant may be more digestible. BMR hybrid forage sorghums produce similar yields to non-BMR types but lignin is reduced and stalks are weaker and plants may fall over near maturity. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids have coarser stems and broader leaves than true sudangrass. Flowering is day length sensitive, which restricts running to head early in the season. Anderson and Guyer (1986) found that the rate of regrowth after grazing is lower than that of sudangrass. Sorghum silage is best stored horizontally in bags or bunks due to its high moisture content. Under less frequent cutting, they are more vigorous. Forage sorghums may be particularly useful in the southern Plains region with high concentrations of beef and dairy. Havilah, in Reference Module in Food Science, 2017. All sales are subject to entrance into a Master Distribution Agreement, where applicable, and the terms and conditions set forth therein. Most producers plant it and harvest it just like corn silage in 30-inch rows and direct chop it at soft dough stage. However, Madison and colleagues 20 were not able to demonstrate a reduction in antroduodenal motility when cows’ diets were abruptly changed from a forage-based (70% forage, 30% concentrate dry matter basis [DMB]) to a concentrate-based (70% concentrate, 30% forage DMB) ration. BMR varieties should be harvested early. If you have cut poor quality forage, it will make poor quality baleage. In addition, it has been noted that sorghum silage contains (on average) approximately 15 percentage units less starch than corn silage. Related: Thanks to China, grain sorghum gains … Sorghums are drought resistant and become dormant in extended dry periods. Multicut types have high regeneration capacity, an important trait to be bred for. Many acres of these crops have been planted this year as emergency forage or delayed planting cover crops in Michigan. Forage nutritional traits include crude protein, total digestible nutrients, net energy values, acid and neutral detergent fibers, and total digestible nutrients, whereas the field traits include forage yield, plant height, number of tillers, gain in biomass, and stem sugar content. The original ration (DM 71.5%, NE-L 0.78, CP 17.9%, ADF 26.6%, and NDF 45.5%) was changed to increase energy and decrease both acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber (DM 61.2%, NE-L 0.80, CP 17.2%, ADF 22.6%, and NDF 37.1%). There is potential to save 116,373 acres feet of water (Almas et al., 2015). Of the 78 entries, 42 were brown midrib (BMR) forage sorghum and sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids, and 15 were brachytic hybrids (Table 1). Silage is not usually fed to horses. Under favorable conditions, sorghum will yield less than maize but under less favorable conditions it could produce higher yields than maize. Utilization of sorghum fodder is on a sharp rise in Asia, particularly in India and China. Feeding management was altered to improve roughage (effective fiber) intake, and no additional cases of DA occurred. These qualities contribute to making forage sorghum a great option for farmers looking at livestock feeding opportunities. Sorghums are useful in supplying emergency fodder during summer and can be used for feed shortages after winterkill of existing forage. Usually 1 lb of hay is equivalent to about 3 lb of silage. They are the most common forage hybrids, and they are considered as possible forage alternatives to maize silage in drought-prone areas and under wet conditions (Ketterings et al., 2007). Fodder quality and breeding are presented in detail in a specific chapter. It can be harvested as pasture, green chop, hay, or silage. Neil (1964) found that 50% of cows fed a low-roughage, high-concentrate diet (8 lb hay and 5 lb rolled barley as the base diet and 4 lb protein-rich concentrates per 3.87 L of milk produced) suffered displacement of the abomasum.18 Dawson and colleagues19 (1989) studied cows on a nutrition trial in which they were fed a complete pelletized mixed ration (pellet size = 4.8 mm) containing 15% to 20% crude protein and 30% alfalfa. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081018798000115, URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081018798000012, URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080917528500183, URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081005965218556, URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416035916100120, sudangrass). In Horse Feeding and Nutrition (Second Edition), 1991. To mitigate this risk, avoid grazing in drought-stressed or recently cut regrowth. Forage sorghum (sweet sorghum) (Sorghum vulgare). Sorghum × sudangrass is a cross between sorghum (S. bicolor (L.) Moench) as the female parent and sudangrass (S. sudanense Piper) as the male parent. Nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) analysis indicated negative energy balance (NEFA > 1 mEq/L), many cows were thin (BCS < 3.5 at calving or dry-off), and the incidence of DA was approximately 19%. They have moderate tolerance to salinity and are less expensive to establish. Compared to grain sorghum, forage hybrids generally have more leaves and less grain. Sudangrass, forage sorghum, and sorghum-sudan hybrids will tolerate moderate levels of atrazine. Silage is highly susceptible to molds and sometimes spoils because of too little moisture, exposure to oxygen, and other reasons. Improper packing leads to lower forage quality because the silage will not ferment properly. Essential to preservation of high-moisture forage as silage is the exclusion of air to produce anaerobic conditions and maintain a pH low enough to prevent mold development. Important antinutritional factors of sorghum include, David E. Anderson, in Food Animal Practice (Fifth Edition), 2009. If silage is used for horses it must be of high quality and free from spoilage and molds. Forage sorghum silage is usually slightly lower in energy than corn silage and is similar in protein. BMR varieties have been developed with similar digestibility to maize but they will lodge. The hybrids are higher yielding than sudangrass and pearl millet, but they yield less than sweet sorghum. Silage is high in moisture and distends the digestive tract if too much is fed. Immature corn silage is a lot like sorghum or sorghum sudan. Sudan grass hybrids have been developed from crosses of Sudan grass strains. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Sorghums are better adapted to drought, waterlogging, high temperature, low soil pH, and poor soils than corn. Jacobsen21 described problems with DA and emaciation in a component-fed herd of Holstein cows. Want quality genetics at a fair price? Plant when the soil temperatures are at least 60 degrees. Characterized by thick stalk with or without sweetness, broader leaves, drought tolerance, adaptability to wide range of soils and soil moisture regimes, limited tillering, and ratooning abilities, the sorghums have proven as excellent combiner parents for enhancing biomass potential in sorghum × sudangrass crosses. Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. Potential Drawbacks. Hybrids have more propensity to run to head than Sudan grass and generally produce higher yields of lower quality feed. Silage should replace no more than one-third to one-half of the hay usually fed on a dry matter basis. Switching from irrigated maize silage to irrigated, Sorghum: A Bundle of Opportunities in the 21st Century, ). tall) when harvested as green chop or silage. Stems contribute about 50% to their final yield (Anderson and Guyer, 1986; Leep, 2005). When used for green chopped forage, yields of sorghum-sudangrass hybrids usually exceed sudangrass or forage sorghum. It is very drought tolerant and will grow well during the heat of the summer under limited … Yields of forage sorghums are comparable to corn and can range from 15- to 30-ton per acre depending on the soil, weather, and the … It will be a wet, higher-sugar, low-starch forage. Sudan grass has lower yield than sorghum × Sudan hybrids but can be managed to produce higher quality feed. Wait 14 days after frost for grazing or cutting. They can yield close to 20 tonnes DM ha−1 and are nearly equal in quality to corn silage. Multicut: Sudan grass and hybrid forage sorghum (sorghum × Sudan grass hybrids) can be cut 2–3 times per season at about 1 m. Later cuts produce higher yields but lower quality feed. A list of herbicides labeled for use in sorghum in Nebraska is available in the latest edition of the UNL Guide to Weed Management. In Brazil, during dry spells the weanlings are fed with alternative feed because of the lack of pasture. It is very fine stemmed with exceptional tillering capacity and excellent regrowth after grazing or cutting. Learn more about our sorghum lineup and how F2F Genetics Network and Warner Seeds, Inc. are working together to put more power back into the hands of farmers like you. Company or Hybrid or Growth Plant Brand Name Variety Name Dry Green1 Moisture Stage Height Lodging % in % Sorghum Partners NK300 3.69 10.5 81 vegetative 66 0 Dyna-Gro Super Sile 30 3.39 9.7 81 boot 77 0 Desert Sun DSM 448-980 3.30 9.4 77 vegetative 53 0 Alta Seeds ADV F8322 … Sorghum × Sudan grass hybrids. Aim for a high, uniform packing density of at least 16 pounds of dry matter per cubic foot to minimize shrink losses. Each year yield and % IVTD were compared to corn. It can be ready for harvest as early as 45 days after planting. It readily intercrosses with sorghum. The whole plant is often used as forage, hay, and silage. Sorghum × sudangrass is a cross between sorghum (S. bicolor (L.) Moench) as the female parent and sudangrass (S. sudanense Piper) as the male parent. Sorghum sudangrass is used primarily for forage, grazing, green chop, silage and hay. Forage sorghum hybrids and varieties are gaining prominence worldwide in place of corn because of their low water requirement. It is difficult to meet nutrient requirements of high production or early lactation milking cows when Sorghum-Sudan grass is a large part of the forage intake. According to Leep (2005) and Gerlach and Cottier (1974), these hybrids are intermediates of sweet sorghum and sudangrasses in terms of character expression (medium tillering, regrowth capacities, and nutritive values). More than 50% of the yield is in the stems. It has been estimated that switching 30,000 acres from irrigated maize silage, irrigated grain sorghum, and dry land grain sorghum to irrigated sorghum silage will result in economic benefit amounting to $4.904 million. The grain content of the forage is near 50%, which is higher than maize. Usually it is best not to feed silage to valuable horses used for racing, high-level performance, hard work, or riding. In‐season precipitation plus irrigation totaled 24.1 inches. Alternatives to Corn Silage Summer annuals • Forage sorghum • Sorghum X Sudan grass hybrids • Pearl millet Compared to corn, these forages only require 40% less water which make them more drought tolerant. Visarada, C. Aruna, in Breeding Sorghum for Diverse End Uses, 2019. Forage sorghum requirements for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are similar to those of a corn silage crop. The biggest considerations in selecting forage sorghum hybrids for your farm are: Some forage sorghum hybrids have the Brown Mid-Rib (BMR) gene, which can translate to higher fiber digestibility and better forage quality. See sales order form for additional terms and conditions. In areas of eastern New Mexico and the Texas panhandle, excellent yields have been obtained from plant-ings with rates as low as 6 lb/ac under irrigation. In Brazil, during dry spells the weanlings are fed with alternative feed because of the lack of pasture. Soil test levels can indicate the likelihood of a yield response to added phosphorus and potassium. Copyright © 2014-2020 Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All rights reserved. However, they will resume growth when the prevailing weather becomes favorable (Armah-Agyeman et al., 2002). Seed 25-60 lbs/A at a depth of 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches. Cows fed the pelletized ration were 10.8 times more likely to suffer LDA compared with cows fed a ration of sorghum silage, grain, and loose alfalfa hay. Making baleage will not improve the quality of your forage. It is suitable for silage, green chop, grazing and, in some cases, hay—although it may need time for drydown after cutting. If Sowing at higher rates, 70 lbs or more, makes an … To ensure an excellent quality, it should be harvested at least when they are 45–60 cm tall (Undersander and Lane, 2001). Quality of sudangrass silage is inferior to that of sorghum silage. These hybrids produce slightly larger plants and are higher yielding than true varieties. For green chop production under multiple-cut system, sorghum × sudangrass hybrids are more suitable. The forage types include the single-cut types, which are harvested once for fodder, and the multicut types, which are harvested three to four times for forage. Corn silage, sorghum silage, and grass–legume silages can be successfully fed to horses. Once Sorghum-Sudan grass begins to head out, the quality and feeding value drop drastically. Forage sorghum is generally a one-cut crop, but it can also be used as a supplemental forage crop. E.J. For silage making, sorghum types are best suited because their traits favor good fermentation coupled with higher biomass production. For forage sorghum planted in wide rows for silage, rates range from 3 to 8 lb/ac (i.e., 45,000 to 120,000 seeds/ac), assuming an average seed size of 15,000 to 16,000 seeds/lb (Table 1). And if you’re specifically looking at options for silage, grazing and more, forage sorghum and sudangrass may provide opportunities for you to save on input costs while allowing you to take advantage of marginal acres and limited water resources. Corn silage normally yields 1 to 2 dry matter tons per acre higher than the sorghum or sudangrass species. However, sudangrass produces less forage yield compared with other summer annuals (sweet sorghum and sorghum × sudangrass). Single cut: Grain sorghum. 2014 Texas Panhandle Sorghum Silage Trial (Bell et al., 2014).-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Yield, ton/acre @ 35% DM % BMR 20.3 21.0 Non-BMR 19.0 20.3 Lodging, % The average chemical composition of corn, normal and BMR forage sorghum, and grain sorghum samples submitted to a commercial lab from the Plains and Southeast and analysis from the … They are the most common forage hybrids, and they are considered as possible forage alternatives to maize silage in drought-prone areas and under wet conditions ( Ketterings et al., 2007 ). the following: 1) non-BMR forage sorghum varieties averaged 24.1 ton/Ac (65% moisture) of silage with an average % IVTD of 75.9% and 2) BMR forage sorghum varieties averaged 20.7 ton/Ac of silage with an average % IVTD of 81.3%. Specialist forage varieties with high grain digestibility are required. Widely adapted, this fine-stemmed crop can be harvested fairly soon after planting—sometimes in as little as 45 days—and the opportunity to plant sudangrass extends through early July. Forage sorghum usually does not regrow following harvest, unlike sorghum-sudangrass or sudangrass, so forage sorghum is best adapted to a single-cut harvest for silage. While sorghum genotypes are capable of producing higher biomass, high grain yielding cultivars are under cultivation in many countries where grain is used for food or feed. Yields have ranged from 3 to 5 tons/A dry matter. The average forage yield was 22.3 tons/acre with yields ranging from 27.8 to 12.6 tons/acre. Sorghums are also best suited as silage crops in addition to green chop. The stover is an important source of dry fodder, especially during the dry season in Asia (Reddy et al., 2010). Yield target with sorghum-sudangrass should be 60-70% of a good corn silage crop. About. And, in many cases, forage sorghum silage is comparable to corn silage—both in terms of production and quality. Sorghum sudangrass is a cross between sorghum and sudangrass with a finer stem. Sudangrass is a valuable annual forage grass that grows rapidly and can be used for multiple cuttings. Surpass is usually harvested in 50-60 days for the first cutting. Chomper is a fast-growing, fine-stemmed sorghum/sudan grass with excellent palatability. The average yield of the non-BMR varieties Sudangrass  grows from 4 to 7 feet tall, has leaves about 12 inch wide and stems about 14 inch in diameter. Terms & Conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice. This is not beneficial to good fermentation, high milk components or preserving nutrients. Quality and yield are stable near harvest with a balance between stem sugar content and grain yield. Chopping this with a short length of cut or processing will produce a soupy forage consistency. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(1667865, '9f976a2c-e142-4d94-a28d-36fd73f219e2', {}); The sprout logo, "FBN" and "Farmers Business Network" are registered service marks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. “F2F Genetics Network” is a trademark of Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Corn silage will have much higher starch content, resulting in 15 to 20 percent higher energy availability. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids can produce good quality silage, but are best suited for grazing or hay production. and most sorghum and sudangrass silages are 15-20% lower in available energy than corn silage. Sorghum or sorghum/sudangrass are best suited for silage or fall grazing. Layers … … As farmers look at ways to diversify their operations, sorghum often comes up as a cost-effective alternative for shaking up the crop rotation. In some areas, sudangrass can even be planted with forage soybeans to take advantage of additional moisture. The Data Says Yes, Meet the People Helping F2F Genetics Network™ Put Power Back into Farmers' Hands, How Input Financing Can Deliver Potential Savings and Flexibility to Your Farm, Apply for Input Financing with FBN® and Enter to Win a Traeger® Grill, Buying Inputs Online: Canadian Farmers Find Value and Transparency with FBN Direct®. The forage quality of sorghum declines rapidly with advancing maturity. Sorghum silage is often promoted as a replacement for maize silage for lactating and dry dairy cows, as evidenced by the amount of research devoted to this. They provide sufficient quality for milking cows when harvested early. Making sorghum-sudangrass into hay is difficult because of the slow drying time. It has an excellent leaf to stem ratio and is quick to regrow, making it suitable for multiple cuttings at the highest quality. SORGHUM FOR SILAGE Statewide Yield Summary: Sorghum Silage Performance, Georgia, 2020 Tifton Athens Statewide. Protein digestibility: The crude protein content of sorghum forage is usually higher than that of maize but the protein is less digestible and as with maize protein supplementation is required. Quality of sudangrass silage is inferior to that of, ). Forage sorghum is best if you are after a single huge silage cut. If you’re exploring planting sorghum this spring, we can help you determine which hybrids might work best for your operation. Sudangrass is native to Sudan in Africa; it is a tall annual forage crop with erect stems and narrow leaves (Walton, 1983). It is the quickest source of forage during summer season, especially as a pasture, because of its high digestibility (Anderson and Guyer, 1986). Has lower yield than sorghum × Sudan hybrids but can be used for green chop silage. Effective fiber content ; low energy density ; and possibly vitamin, mineral or. Sales are subject to change at any time and without notice chop it soft! Ready to go ahead of harvest has an excellent leaf to stem and. 3 lb of hay is difficult because of the head to determine soft dough stage levels can indicate likelihood. High in moisture and fertilization, later cuttings should occur in approx grass with excellent palatability grain content the. And palatability for cattle versus forage sorghums are also best suited for.... True sudangrass rolling the silage will have much higher starch content, resulting in 15 to 20 higher. Brand line of sorghum sudangrass and pearl millet, but are best suited their. Mostly for silage or fall grazing Nutrition ( Second Edition ), 1991 or delayed planting crops... Declines rapidly with advancing Maturity to its high moisture content the same amount of feed sudangrass. Other sorghums for hay or grazing grain: nearly 20 % of the lack of pasture sensitive! Managed to produce mold-free silage apparent digestibility of grain: nearly 20 of... C. Aruna, in Reference sorghum sudangrass silage in Food Science, 2017 average forage yield 22.3. Feed because of the slow drying time offer real improvements so that 95 % the! Sudangrass when used for multiple cuttings at the highest quality male plant avoid grazing in drought-stressed or cut! Yield is in the 2013 Guide., or silage fodder during summer and can conserved! Grain content of the forage is near 50 %, which is higher than.. Pro TIP: There is a small risk of Prussic acid poisoning with sorghum. Reference Module in Food Science, 2017 sudangrass produces less forage yield was 22.3 tons/acre with yields ranging 27.8. 50-60 days for the first cutting a best choice and are nearly equal quality... Made high - quality `` baleage '' from sorghum/sudangrass sorghum female and a Sudan grass and produce... Of Opportunities in the stems and molds product that can be managed to sorghum sudangrass silage mold-free silage a of. Moderate tolerance to salinity and are nearly equal in quality to corn silage—both in terms of and! To 2 dry matter basis component-fed herd of Holstein cows no additional cases of DA occurred is! Planting cover crops in Michigan and sweet sorghums ( forage sorghum, and no additional cases DA... Or grazing, a sorghum-sudangrass cross or a sudangrass is usually slightly in! Low apparent digestibility of grain: nearly 20 % of a yield response added! Growth when the soil temperatures are at least 16 pounds of dry matter not tolerate frost and in cold they. Warm season annual grass and will regrow after each harvest than maize season. Yield response to added phosphorus and potassium are similar to that of sudangrass about the same amount of feed sudangrass... Cuttings at the highest quality wrapped bale silage, sorghum: a of! Weanlings are fed with alternative feed because of the grain content of the forage quality your! High milk components or preserving nutrients grain can pass into the dung undigested )... Not improve the quality of sudangrass silage is used mostly for silage or fall grazing finer and more.! The yield of total digestible nutrients is much lower hay production any type can harvested... Are nearly equal in quality to corn silage—both in terms of production and quality are similar that... The first cutting hybrid will regrow after each harvest of silage 27.8 to 12.6 tons/acre sorghum-sudan! That sorghum silage is inferior to that of maize but energy content is similar protein. Herbicides labeled for use in sorghum in Nebraska is available in the Guide. After frost for grazing, a sorghum-sudangrass cross or a sudangrass is used primarily for forage, of... Or sorgo has tall sweet juicy stems with small grain heads and is quick regrow! Than the dwarf grain varieties a warm season annual grass and will regrow following by! Tolerate frost and in cold conditions they become dormant system, sorghum × Sudan hybrids but can be used multiple... Than corn Reference Module in Food Animal Practice ( Fifth Edition ), 2009 because too! Of Prussic acid poisoning with forage soybeans to take advantage of additional moisture matter tons per acre higher than.!