Update on Sorghum DDGS

Dusti Fritz, Sorghum Checkoff Western States Field Services Representative, traveled to several elevator locations in southwest Kan. during the last week of April to discuss the status of the industry in those areas. During her travels, she learned that many piles of sorghum are disappearing due to steady demand.

During a visit to an elevator in Garden City, Kan., Dusti found that there are still inconsistent markets for sorghum DDGS in that area. She explained to them the Sorghum Checkoff is working to create livestock feeding handbooks to increase awareness and educate livestock producers on the nutritional value of sorghum and sorghum DDGS.

These handbooks will mainly target the beef, swine, poultry and dairy industries. The Sorghum Checkoff is working with nutritionists to develop proper management techniques to improve the feeding value of sorghum to livestock producers. Recently research has been conducted with sorghum DDGS and data indicates that similar growth rates can be achieved with diets containing sorghum DDGS as diets containing corn DDGS or corn-soybean meal diets without DDGS. Similar to the comparison between their parent grains, sorghum DDGS has a slightly lower energy level than corn DDGS due to the lower fat content.

In areas where water is becoming more and more scarce, sorghum is a valuable risk management tool and provides livestock producers with a low input, high energy feed. To request your copy of the Sorghum Checkoff Livestock Feeding Guide use the Contact Us page or call (877) 643-8727.