SUSTAINABILITY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2025 99 EXPANDING SORGHUM USE ACROSS LIVESTOCK TYPES The ability to use sorghum in different formulations makes it attractive to feed manufacturers as it can be used as a primary ingredient or combined with other ingredients to meet precise nutritional needs. Sorghum’s versatility makes it useful across various animal feed sectors: • Cattle: Both beef and dairy cattle benefit from sorghum’s energy and digestibility. Its versatility makes it a perfect option when used in finishing diets, forage, or silage. • Poultry: Chickens, especially broilers, need energy-dense diets for rapid growth. Sorghum provides this while supporting good feed conversion rates. • Pigs: Swine diets need easily digestible starch and protein. Sorghum meets these requirements, and pigs respond well to diets with high levels of sorghum. • Aquaculture: Even fish farms are exploring sorghum as a replacement for soybean and corn meal. It offers a plant-based protein alternative that is sustainable and cost-effective. ECONOMIC AND LOCAL ADVANTAGES Cost is always a factor in feed decisions, and sorghum is more affordable than other grains, especially in areas where water is scarce or growing conditions are tough. Its innate ability to grow in local climates plays a huge role in the reduction of dependence on imported grains. When more countries grow and use their own sorghum, they can reduce feed imports and support their rural economies. In fact, when farmers use locally sourced sorghum, they are improving their resilience and strengthening both regional and feed security. Transport costs become lower which shortens supply chains and helps to stabilize prices in areas where feed is produced closer to where animals are raised. A GRAIN FOR THE FUTURE From climate change to resource shortages, solutions like sorghum are more important than ever. It’s more than just a grain. It’s a tool for feeding animals, protecting the planet, and empowering farmers. With modern, digestible varieties, strong energy value, and low input needs, sorghum is set to reshape livestock nutrition. Sorghum is ready. The question is: Are we ready to make the switch? About Nate Blum As the CEO of BlüMilo and the Sorghum United Foundation, Nate Blum leads global efforts to promote sorghum and millets as key crops for sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental resilience. His work focuses on empowering local communities by improving education, developing markets, and expanding economic opportunities tied to sorghum and millet production—especially in regions facing rural economic disparities and sustainability challenges. Blum is a specialist in value-added processing of sorghum products and has shared his expertise in over 40 countries. He actively promotes these grains at global forums and has represented the industry at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), contributing to discussions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AdobeStock | 634840094
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