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Nutritional Characteristics of Forage Sorghum and Sudangrass after Frost¹

Water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) levels and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) were evaluated in relation to changes in crude fiber levels of the forage.

Mature forage sorghum (157 days of age), sampled three times after frost, averaged 25.3% WSC, 20% crude fiber, and 52.9% IVDMD. Sudangrass harvested under the same conditions averaged 3.1% WSC, 39.6% crude fiber, and 36.9% IVDMD. Third regrowth forage sorghum (56 days of age) analyzed 5.5% WSC, 23.8% crude fiber, and 57.1% IVDMD. The respective values of sudangrass of the same age were 3.4, 25.5, and 50.6%.

The data obtained suggest that the nutritive value of some sorghums, as measured by IVDMD, does not decrease appreciably with increased maturity. The increase in percentage WCS observed in mature forage sorghum compared to less mature tissue was attributed to an increased stem diameter and an active pith parenchyma.

Key Words: Crude fiber • Plant maturity • Crude protein • in vitro dry matter disappearance • Water soluble carbohydrates

² Plant Physiologist USDA, ARS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607; Research Agronomist, USDA, ARS, and Associate Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University; Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University; and Professor of Agronomy and Professor of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, respectively.

Received for publication October 1, 1969.

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