The benefits of grain sorghum in the diet of monogastrics.

Not only does sorghum have a favorable chemical composition, but it is also the most energetic cereal for poultry.

It can be incorporated up to 40% in feed formulations, while making sure to adapt this incorporation rate according to the growth or production stage. For example, during early phases, it is best to limit the incorporation rate to a maximum of 30%.

Energy value in kcal / kg DM of sorghum in rooster (red) compared to maize (blue)

The presence of sorghum in the diet of poultry has little effect on the organoleptic quality of meat.

• Compared with maize, sorghum contains less xanthophyll, which induces the yellow coloring of the final product. Poultry fed on a diet rich in sorghum will produce meat less yellow than corn-fed poultry.
• However, some markets prefer white meat and, although the color of the meat can be changed, there is no effect on its taste!

The nutritional qualities of sorghum in pork production are also very interesting.

• • The nutritional value of sorghum has been proven. In the growth phase and when fattening pigs, the daily gain generated by sorghum is almost identical to that of maize. Sorghum can be introduced into the feed formulations with maize, wheat and barley. Compared with maize, sorghum nutrient levels are slightly higher in amino acids, with a little less energy.
  • Sorghum can be used at every stage of pork production: during breeding, growth and fattening.
  • Containing essential amino acids, sorghum offers interesting amounts of threonine and tryptophan. On the performance side, average daily gains range from 98% to 106% of the value of maize.

Favorable chemical composition

The ARVALIS Institute, in collaboration with FranceAgriMer, analyzes grain sorghum every year. It shows that its chemical composition is similar to that of other cereals, such as wheat and maize (see Table 1: average chemical composition of sorghum, wheat and maize).

• Its starch content, which is a source of energy, represents 74% of the dry matter. It is superior to that of wheat and equivalent to that of corn.
• The protein rate of sorghum, with an average of 11% can oscillate between 10 and 12 in the best cases, is also very interesting.

chemical composition of sorghum, wheat and maize

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