High stover yield sorghum varieties may be lacking in nutritional quality, so dual-purpose variety selection is required to optimize both fodder quantity and feed value for sustainable livestock production.
Keywords: Nutritive value, Sorghum variety, Stay-green, Stover yield
Despite extensive research on sorghum in Ethiopia, most studies have prioritized grain yield, with limited attention given to fodder yield and quality. Between 1970 and 2015, 49 grain-oriented sorghum varieties were released, whereas only one forage-specific variety was introduced in 2021. Grain-focused selection has often overlooked stover quality, yet integrating stover traits into breeding programs could enhance food and feed security in mixed farming systems. Researchers from Bako Agricultural Research Center assessed the stover production, nutrient composition, and morphological traits of stay-green sorghum varieties under the agroecological conditions of Bako, western Ethiopia. Findings revealed substantial variability in stover yield among varieties, largely influenced by plant height and stem biomass. Chemeda and Gemedi demonstrated the highest stover yields, aligning with previous studies that link cutting height to fodder productivity. However, stover yield alone does not determine feed value; digestibility and nutrient content also play crucial roles.
Although the two varieties excelled in biomass production, they exhibited lower digestible dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) yields compared to Asosa1 and Adukara, which had superior digestibility. This suggests that while Chemeda and Gemedi provide greater fodder quantity, Asosa1 and Adukara offer better feed quality, making them preferable in nutrient-focused livestock systems. Stover crude protein content across all varieties remained below the critical threshold required for optimal rumen function, indicating a need for protein supplementation. Additionally, variations in fiber composition influenced digestibility, with shorter varieties producing higher leaf-to-stem ratios and lower lignin concentrations. These findings underscore the importance of selecting sorghum varieties based on both yield and nutritional value to balance feed quantity and quality, ensuring sustainable livestock production.
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Reference:
Tulu A, Diribsa M, Gadisa B, Temesgen W. Stover yield, morphological fractions and nutrient composition of five stay-green sorghum (Sorghum biochar L.) varieties at the physiological maturity stage. Heliyon. 2025 Jan 6;11(1):e41753. PMID: 39866471. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41753. Read more