Production and utilization of fodder and grain sorghum as forage for cattle in the Ord River valley, Western Australia

Abstract

Three experiments were carried out to obtain data on optimum water and nitrogen regimes for growing fodder sorghum; on cattle liveweight gains on irrigated fodder sorghum and grain sorghum regrowth; and on cattle liveweight gains on green chop fodder sorghum in feed lots. Near maximum dry matter yields of fodder sorghum were obtained with 180 kg ha-1 nitrogen and 4- weekly irrigation. Fodder sorghum grazed at 6.4 and 4.0 head ha-1 for 26 weeks gave mean liveweight gains of 0.36 and 0.41 kg head-1 day -1. Ratooned grain sorghum grazed at 4.0 head ha-1 gave 0.35 kg head-1 day-1, but was unable to carry 6.4 head ha-1. Green chop fodder sorghum fed at the preflowering and at the soft dough stages gave mean liveweight gains of 0.48 and 0.37 kg head-1 day-1 over 26 weeks.