Sorghum as a feed grain alternative is reshaping livestock farming through its high energy content, improved digestibility, and resource-efficient cultivation. As animal protein demand grows and climate concerns intensify, sorghum offers compelling advantages. From silage options to multi-species versatility, its benefits go beyond nutrition—yet key aspects of its role in sustainability and local economies await discovery in the full article.
Chief Executive Officer
Sorghum United Foundation
Sorghum is gaining ground and fast becoming a smart alternative to traditional feed grains. It’s high energy content, low input needs, and environmental benefits make it an ideal choice for modern, sustainable livestock nutrition. This is especially true when it comes to the worlds growing population which is demanding more food production while using fewer resources.
A NEW ERA IN LIVESTOCK NUTRITION
Animal protein continues to be in high demand from countries all over the world, and with that comes the need for more efficient livestock feed. This is where sorghum comes in as a grain that in the past has often been overlooked but is now emerging as a front-runner in sustainable livestock nutrition.
Sorghum Matches Corn in Energy
Traditionally, corn has been the grain of choice in livestock diets, and with good reason, as it is known for its high energy value. However, sorghum delivers nearly the same energy content and is now being recognized as a true alternative in many parts of the world, especially where corn is either expensive or hard to grow.
Modern sorghum varieties have been bred to be free of tannins, which are compounds that once limited the grain’s use in animal feed. These new varieties make sorghum digestible and extremely palatable when used in livestock feed.
This is especially true when it comes to livestock such as broiler chickens and pigs, as sorghum provides the dietary requirements needed to support these fast-growing livestock effectively.
Additionally, sorghum helps to support healthy weight gain in animals while providing them with the nutrients that they need to ensure growth, reproduction, and milk or egg production.
DIGESTIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS WITH MODERN VARIETIES
When processed correctly, by grinding, flaking, or pelleting, this magnificent grain becomes even easier for animals to digest. Its improved digestibility has several advantages, and while older sorghum varieties that contained tannins reduced nutrient absorption in animals, today’s tannin-free sorghum has eliminated that issue completely.
This improved digestibility means that more nutrients are absorbed which results in faster growth and healthier livestock. This is particularly important in monogastric animals like pigs and poultry, which have simpler digestive systems.
SORGHUM SILAGE: ANOTHER WAY TO FEED
Beyond grain, sorghum can also be grown and harvested as silage, offering a highly digestible and nutrient-rich feed option. When harvested at the soft dough stage, sorghum silage retains a lot of energy and ferments well, which enhances both its shelf life and nutritional profile.
There are certain sorghum varieties, like brown midrib (BMR) hybrids, that have lower lignin content, making them easier for cows to digest. These hybrids have been developed specifically for forage use and offer a great alternative to corn silage, particularly in dry regions or during drought years.
Sorghum silage also stores well, giving dairy farmers a stable, year-round feed source, which is a major advantage in areas with unpredictable weather or short growing seasons.
RESOURCE-EFFICIENT CROP FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE
Probably one of the biggest advantages of using sorghum in livestock feed is its ability to grow with fewer resources. Sorghum is a drought-tolerant crop and needs significantly less water than other traditional grains. In arid and semi-arid regions, this makes a huge difference.
Sorghum also does not require many chemical inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In turn, this lowers production costs for farmers and reduces the environmental impact of growing feed crops.
SORGHUM SUPPORTS CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE
Feeding livestock with sorghum doesn’t just make sense on the farm, it also helps combat climate change. One such major environmental concern when it comes to animal agriculture is methane emissions. These emissions are mainly produced by ruminants like cattle and sheep.
Fortunately, high-digestibility feeds like modern sorghum can help lower these emissions, and when animals digest feed more efficiently, they produce less methane per unit of weight gain.
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).
