Forage production, fermentation and nutritional value of silage from commercial sorghum varieties
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Keywords
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, fermentation, nutrition
Resumen
Objective: To evaluate forage yield, fermentation characteristics, and the nutritional quality of silage from five commercial sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties in comparison with forage corn.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The study assessed the impact of five sorghum varieties Super Sorgo, Silo Miel, Silo Master, Gigante Verde, and BMR sorghum alongside corn on forage yield, silage fermentation profile, and nutritional composition. A randomized complete block design with four replications was implemented for both field and silage trials. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SAS software (version 9.3), with statistical significance declared at P ≤ 0.05.
Results: Super Sorgo exhibited the highest fresh forage and dry matter (DM) yield, with only Silo Miel achieving a comparable DM yield. Silo Master and Gigante Verde produced DM yields similar to both Silo Miel and corn. Optimal fermentation profiles characterized by elevated lactic acid concentrations and lower pH were observed in corn and conventional sorghum varieties. Conversely, BMR sorghum displayed the least favorable fermentation parameters. Regarding nutritional quality, Super Sorgo and Silo Master silages had the lowest crude protein (CP) contents. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) levels were highest in corn and comparable in Silo Miel, Silo Master, and Gigante Verde. Corn silage demonstrated the greatest digestibility of both DM and NDF, a trait matched only by Silo Miel, Silo Master, and Gigante Verde.
Limitations/Implications: No limitations were identified in this study.
Findings/Conclusions: Super Sorgo and Silo Miel are recommended for systems aiming to maximize forage yield. Meanwhile, Silo Miel, Silo Master, Gigante Verde, and corn are preferable when targeting high nutritional quality forage in dairy and/or forage production systems under the prevailing climate and management conditions suitable for sorghum cultivation.