In regions of adequate summer rainfall and/or irrigation, summer forage crops can offer graziers an exceptional
feed platform to complement traditional winter pastures and crops.

Summer forage crops such as sorghum and millet can produce feed at up to 300 kg DM/ha/day and have up to
three times the water use efficiency (WUE) of traditional perennial pastures over summer without loss of feed value.

In regions of adequate summer rainfall and/or irrigation, summer forage crops can offer graziers an exceptional
feed platform to complement traditional winter pastures and crops.

Summer forage crops such as sorghum and millet can produce feed at up to 300 kg DM/ha/day and have up to
three times the water use efficiency (WUE) of traditional perennial pastures over summer without loss of feed value.

Steps for Successful Establishment of Forage Sorghums

1. Soil test to identify fertiliser requirements

2. Plan seedbed preparation early to control weed

3. Consider a pre-emergent herbicide

4. Plant any time from early spring until late summer into warm soil (millet greater than 12°C and sorghum greater than 16°C when measured at 9 am at a 10 cm depth)

5. Sow sorghums at 5 cm depth (millet at 1 cm depth) Plant rows 15–30 cm apart with recommended starter fertiliser

6. Ensure good seed to soil contact by using a drill with press wheels or roll the paddock after sowing

7. Apply nitrogen pre or post crop emergence, or band beside or beneath the seed

Hay and Silage Making from Sorghums

1. Plant at higher seeding rates for greater stand density, thinner stems and more leaf

2. Topdress crop with nitrogen prior to closing for silage

3. Harvest when sorghum has reached about 1 m in height. This is a good compromise between quality and quantity. As height increases above 1.2 m, forage quality declines rapidly

4. Use a mower conditioner for rapid even curing. Raising the cutting height may improve the quality of feed being harvested

5. While millets potentially produce higher quality silage compared to forage sorghum, they do not have the same yield potential

6. Increase the protein content of summer forage crops by sowing a legume such as red clover or, in northern environments, lab lab, cow peas or soy beans

Grazing Forage Sorghums

1. Plants should be healthy and not under stress (preferably with the tallest leaf 80 cm at the height of the tip when held upright) to minimise risk of prussic acid poisoning

2. For optimum quality, graze when the forage sorghum crop has reached about 80 cm in height. Forage quality declines rapidly after 1.2 m in height

3. Strip or rotationally graze with a high stocking rate to maximise utilisation and promote rapid regrowth

4. Crops can be re-grazed a number of times. Under good growing conditions, Pronto® can be grazed up to five times at about 0.5 m height, or four grazings and a hay cut

5. If crop growth is hard to control by grazing, lock up surplus area for hay or silage. The area left for grazing should then maintain optimal feed quality

What are Brown Mid Rib (BMR Genetics)?

Brown Mid Rib (BMR) Genetics

BMR genetics of new forage sorghum varieties have reduced lignin for improved forage quality, palatability and stock intake. Crops for grazing and silage can be better utilised and animals better fed.  BMR genetics is a naturally occurring gene in forage sorghum resulting in a visible Brown Mid Rib (BMR) vein down the middle of the leaf blade. This condition can significantly reduce the lignin structure of plant leaves resulting in increased plant digestibility and palatability. As a result, animals can perform better from increased feed value and higher intake.