Sorghum

an Alternative for

Feeding Dairy and

Beef Cattle.

Robert Hagevoort PhD

Extension Dairy Specialist

New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University

Robert Hagevoort PhD

• Born Zwolle, The Netherlands

• BSc Tropical Animal Production – Deventer, The Netherlands

• King Ranch – Venezuela 1985

• MSc Range Nutrition 1990 – Texas A&M University

• PhD Animal Nutrition 1993 – Texas A&M University

• Nutritionist Kruse Grain & Milling, CA 1993-1995

• Independent Consultant to Dairy Industry 1995-2005

• Extension Dairy Specialist NMSU 2005-current

TX, NM and AZ – 3rd largest milkshed! (milk production in millions of lbs)

• #1 California: 39,512

• #2 Wisconsin: 25,239

• New Mexico, Texas and Arizona 20,820

• #3 New York: 12,424

• #4 Idaho: 12,150

• #5 Pennsylvania: 10,551

• #6 Minnesota: 9,019

• #7 Texas: 8,840

• #8 Michigan: 7,968

• #9 New Mexico: 7,904

• #10 Washington: 5,561

• #13 Arizona 4,076

Texas, New Mexico and Arizona combined: #3 nationally!

Source: February 2010 Milk Production Report, USDA

U.S. Top 5 – Average cows per herd

• 1. New Mexico 2,167

• 2. Arizona 1,609

• 3. California 987

• 4. Colorado 946

• 5. Idaho 917

• Average herd size in US: 167

• Wisconsin 95

• New York 113

• Pennsylvania 74

Source: February 2010 Milk Production Report, USDA

U.S. Top 5 – Milk per Cow

• 1. New Mexico 24,320

• 2. Washington 23,171

• 3. Colorado 23,089

• 4. Arizona 23,028

• 5. Michigan 22,445

• Average US milk per Cow: 20,567

• Arkansas 12,615

• Louisiana 11,870

Source: February 2010 Milk Production Report, USDA

Eastern New Mexico/West Texas Dairy Industry

Approximate Size:

2300 cows/operation

400,000 cows

174 producers

8 billion lbs of milk

4.4% of US milk

75% of NM milk

47% of TX milk

New Mexico State University

Where are we?

Depends on

where we were…

…. and where

we’re going

… or maybe its time to

think a little outside

the box…

“If the facts

don’t fit the

theory,

change the

facts.“

Albert

Einstein

Feed grains:

• Corn, wheat sorghum and barley are all sources

of energy for ruminants.

• They are the main sources of energy in ruminant

rations.

• They can make up to 95% of the total ration for

feedlot animals.

• Typically corn is the grain of choice and the others are

considered secondary sources of energy.

• However this does not mean that any of these sources are

inferior to corn, but more so a preference or maybe a habit

of nutritionists to look at corn first

Sorghum

• Sorghum is probably the most efficient

feedgrain in terms of conversion of solar

energy and water to feed energy.

• This fact is becoming increasingly more

important in times of considering footprints

(water, carbon, land and energy).

• Sorghum can be used in beef and dairy

rations as a replacement for corn.

• Research has shown that sorghum is

comparable to corn in beef and dairy

12.60

9.80

13.20

14.20

11.60

9.40

12.40

14.20

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

Sorghum Corn Barley Wheat

Proteina Cruda %

Beef NRC Dairy NRC

CRUDE PROTEIN VALUES IN FEED GRAINS USED IN RUMINANT DIETS

Source: Beef NRC (1996); Dairy NRC (2001)

PROTEIN

• Sorghum: higher CP value than corn, butr lower than

wheat or barley.

• You can expect sorghum to expect about 14% more

CP than corn

• NRC values reflect a 23-28% higher value, however

recent changes in plant genetics probably have given

a dilution of CP into the increased starch values.

6.38

3.30

5.77

4.17

5.90

3.40

7.20

4.40

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

Sorghum Corn Barley Wheat

Fibra Acido Detergente %

Beef NRC Dairy NRC

ACID DETERGENT FIBER (ADF) VALUES IN FEED GRAINS

USED IN RUMINANT DIETS

Source: Beef NRC (1996); Dairy NRC (2001)

ACID DETERGENT FIBER (ADF)

• Lowest for corn and wheat and higher for sorghum

and barley.

• These values for sorghum are likely due to a higher

proportion of seed hull vs seed content.

• Yes there are differences, but they are small and

especially in ruminants very limited.

• Balance for higher CP and less NE, and you’re

good to go!

0.91

1.02

0.93

0.99

0.88

0.93 0.92

0.98

0.80

0.85

0.90

0.95

1.00

1.05

Sorghum Corn Barley Wheat

Energia Neta mantenimiento Mcal/lb

Beef NRC Dairy NRC

ENERGY VALUES FOR MAINTENANCE (NEm) VALUES IN

FEED GRAINS USED IN RUMINANT DIETS

Source: Beef NRC (1996); Dairy NRC (2001)

0.61

0.70

0.63

0.68

0.59

0.63 0.62

0.67

0.82

0.87 0.84

0.90

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

Sorghum Corn Barley Wheat Sorghum Corn Barley Wheat

Energia Neta Crecimiento Mcal/lb Energia Neta Leche Mcal/lb

Beef NRC Dairy NRC

ENERGY VALUES FOR GROWTH AND (NEg) LACTATION

(NEl) IN FEED GRAINS USED IN RUMINANT DIETS

Source: Beef NRC (1996); Dairy NRC (2001)

SORGHUM AND CORN ARE VERY COMPARABLE IN TERMS

OF ENERGY

• Energy terms for maintenance (NEm), gain (NEg) and

lactation(NEl), primarily reflect the efficiency with which an

animal utilizes energy provided by the ration.

• There is a slight advantage for corn over sorghum but the

difference in terms of performance is relatively low.

• If adjusted for the actual values (NE vs CP) performance will

not be affected.

STARCH UTILIZATION IN RUMINANTS

• Starch is the principal source of energy in ruminant diets with high

production potential.

• Ruminal starch fermentation patterns differ between the different feed

grains.

• Ruminal starch utilization is a key determinant in improving the efficiency

of utilization of feed grains in order to impact beef and dairy production,

and to prevent the negative effects from ruminal acidosis from occurring.

• Sorghum ferments slower than other grains due to a more resistant

starch-protein matrix and subsequent penetration of enzymes into

that matrix as compared to corn and other feed grains (Theurer,

1986; Herrera-Saldaña et al., 1990).

• In many cases a mix of feed grains can optimize a

fermentation pattern compared to a single feed grain.

• It provides a higher level of stability of starch utilization in

the rumen between feedings.

• This at the end improves the efficiciency of production, but

definately improves rumen health and ultimately animal

health and longivity.

STARCH UTILIZATION IN RUMINANTS

RATE OF IN SITU STARCH DEGRADATION OF FEED

GRAINS USED IN RUMINANT DIETS

Source: Adapted of Herrera-Saldana et al., 1990. Dairy Sci. 73:2386-2393

SORGHUM GRAIN PROCESSING

• Sorghum grain has to be processed in order to alter the protein

matrix surrounding the starch granules and thereby improve their

digestibilty

• The standard processing methods are grinding, milling and steam

flaking

• The size of the particles is very important in sorghum and finer

grinding as compared to corn is needed to obtain similar feeding

values (<100 microns).

• There is substantial research that supports this recommendation

Mitzner et al.(1994) Titgemeyer y Shirley (1997)

PROCESAMIENTO TÉRMICO DEL GRANO DE SORGO

• The major alteration of the protein matrix and the starch granuales is

achieved through steam flaking versus other methods.

• A combination of humidity, pressure and heat produces an effect

making a major portion of the starch being available to the rumen

microbes.

• Steam flaking can increase the energy value of sorghum with about

20%.

• This claim is substantiated by about 19 lactation trials as compared to

other processing methods.

PROCESAMIENTO DEL GRANO DE SORGO

Protein

Processing

Processed

Sorghum

Bacterial

Enzymes

Bacterial

Enzymes

Available

Starch

58.40 58.40 56.40 55.30

78.90 83.20

78.50 82.50

87.40 95.70

83.70

97.10

2.99 3.06

2.95 3.02

3.11

2.98

3.20

3.03

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

Apisonado a vapor Descascarado a vapor Apisonado a vapor Descascarado a vapor

Maiz* Sorgo**

DMI (lb/d) Milk Yield (lb/d) Total Track Starch Digestion (%) Milk Protein (%) Milk Fat (%)

EFFECTS OF THERMAL PROCESSING ON INTAKE, TOTAL TRACK DIGESTION MILK

PRODUCTION AND COMPOSITION

* Resultados de 6 estudios ** Resultados de 24 estudios

Source: Threurer et al. (1999). J. Dairy Sci. 82:1950-1959

UTILIZATION OF SORGHUM IN LACTATING DIETS

UTILIZATION OF SORHUM IN LACTATING DIETS

• Grain sorghum can be an efficient source of starch for dairy cattle

• Sorghum contains more CP than corn.

• Every lb of sorghum provides 0.013 lbs more protein than corn.

• If you feed 12 lbs of grain/day this equates 0.15 lbs more protein which

can replace roughly 0.3 lbs of SBM.

• The quality of the amino acids is not as important in ruminants because

of the conversion of plant protein to microbial protein.

• The main advantage is the possibility to reduce the level of protein

supplement when replacing corn with sorghum.

• There is a substantial body of data backing this substitution of corn with

sorghum in lactating diets without losing either milk production or milk

composition.

SORGHUM FORAGE

• Sorghum can also be cultivated as a forrage source either as a

complete silage or for roughage after trhe grain removal.

• The advantage is that the growing season is much shorter, has

high biomass production and needs less resources.

• The sorghum silage is an excellent source of forrage in ruminant

diets, lactating, dry and heifer rations.

• Generally corn silage contains higher level of digestible nutrients

but the «brown rib» sorghum breeds have a higher level of dNDF.

• Recent studies confirm that similar milk production can be

obtained with brown rib sorghums as compared to corn silage

(Aydin et al., 1999; Oliver et al., 2004).

• Dann et al. (2007) reported similar milk solids when feeding

sudán-sorghum brownrib silage as comapared to corn silage.

UTILIZATION OF SORGHUM IN BEEF CATTLE

UTILIZATION OF SORGHUM IN BEEF CATTLE

Consumo de materia seca*, ganancia diaria de peso y eficiencia

alimenticia* en granos utilizados en alimentación de ganado de engorda

* Se presentaron diferencias estadísticas p<0.05 entre los tipos de granos

3.13 3.15 3.06 3.31 3.04

19.34

16.69

20.79 20.18

19.07

6.24 6.32 6.88

6.12 6.34

0

5

10

15

20

25

CEBADA MAIZ SORGO AVENA TRIGO

Ganancia Diaria Peso (lb/d) Consumo MS (lb/d) Eficiencia alimenticia (lb/lb)

Source: Adapted of Owen.(1967). J. Anim. Sci. 75:868-879.

3.2

20.84

6.57

3.15

23.09

7.43

3.02

19.23

6.43

2.84

20.18

7.12 3.15

18.41

5.87

3.09

19.14

6.33

0

5

10

15

20

25

GDP (lb/d) CMS (lb/d) E.A. (lb/lb) GDP (lb/d) CMS (lb/d) E.A. (lb/lb)

MAIZ SORGO

Descascarado en seco Alta humedad Descascarado en vapor

Ganancia diaria de peso (GDP), consumo de materia seca (CMS) y

eficiencia alimenticia (E.A.) de ganado de carne alimentados con maíz o

sorgo procesados por diferentes métodos

UTILIZATION OF SORGHUM IN BEEF CATTLE

Source: Adapted of Owen.(1967). J. Anim. Sci. 75:868-879.

CONCLUSIONS

• Sorghum grain as well as forrage is an important feed source for both

beef and dairy cattle

• Sorghum contains more protein than corn, but the ADF is higher which

does not have to have a large effect on digestion in ruminants

Sorghum and corn are fairly comparable in terms of energy.

• Sorghum ferments slower in the rumen than other grains including corn, which is

very important in rations of high producing dairy cows which need high levels of

soluble carbohydrates as their prime source of energy.

• Processing is very important to maximize the efficiency of use of sorghum grain,

and steam flaking has shown to be able to inctrease that value with about 20%

• Utilization of grain sorghum in dairy and beef cattle rations has proven to give

similar results than corn, and there are many research publications that show

this effect..

REFERENCES

Al-Suwaiegh, S., K. C. Fanning, R. J. Grant, C. T. Milton, y T. J. Klopfenstein. 2002. Utilization of distillers grains

from the fermentation of sorghum or corn in diets for finishing beef and lactating dairy cattle. J. Anim. Sci.

80:1105-1111.

Aydin, G. R., R. J. Grant, y J. O’Rear. 1999. Brown midrib sorghum in diets for lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci.

82:2127-2135.

Dann, H. M., R. J. Grant, K. W. Cotanch, E. D. Thomas, C. S. Ballard, y R. Rice. 2007. Comparison of brown midrib

sorghum-sudangrass with corn silage on lactational performance and nutrient digestibility of Holstein dairy

cows. J. Dairy Sci. 91:663-672.

Herrera-Saldana, R. E., J. T. Huber, y M. H. Poore. 1990. Dry matter, crude protein, and starch degradability of five

cereal grains. J. Dairy Sci. 73:2386-2393.

Larrain, R. E., D. M. Schaefer, S. C. Arp, J. R. Claus, and J. D. Reed. 2009. Finishing steers with diets based on

corn, high-tannin sorghum, or a mix of both: Feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef sensory

attributes. J. Anim. Sci. 87:2089-2095.

Mitzner, K. C., F. G. Owen, y R. J. Grant. 1994. Comparison of sorghum and corn grains in early and midlactation

diets for dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 77:1044-1051.

National Research Council. 1996. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle (7th Rev. Ed.). National Academy Press,

Washington, DC.

National Research Council. 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle (7th Rev. Ed.). National Academy Press,

Washington, DC.

Oliver, A. L., R. J. Grant, J. F. Pederson, y J. O’Rear. 2004. Comparison of brown midrib-6 and -18 forage sorghum

with conventional sorghum and corn silage in diets of lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 87:637-644.

Owen, F. G. 1967. Factors affecting nutritive value of corn and sorghum silage. J. Dairy Sci. 50:404-416.

Sorghum in Beef Production Feeding Guide. United Sorghum Checkoff Program. www.sorghumcheckoff.com.

Sorghum in Dairy Production Feeding Guide. United Sorghum Checkoff Program. www.sorghumcheckoff.com

Theurer, C. B ., J. T. Huber, A. Delgado-Elorduy, y R. Wanderley. 1999. Summary of steam-flaking corn or sorghum

grain for lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 82:1950-1959.

Titgemeyer, E. C. y J. E. Shirley. 1997. Effect of processed grain sorghum and expeller soybean meal on

performance of lactating cows. J. Dairy Sci. 80:714-721.

Thank You

dairydoc@nmsu.edu