CALF_News_October_November_2021

24 CALF News • October | November 2021 • www.calfnews.net CALF ANIMAL HEALTH Chuteside Manner EXPLORING THE FRONTIER OF ANIMAL HEALTH Forage Sorghum By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor C orn is king. It is the king of cattle finishing operations, the ethanol industry and grain export markets. However, corn has its own limitations. This Chuteside Manner column investigates why forage sorghums are a beneficial option in a crop rotation system with corn, as well as a viable alternative in backgrounding and finishing beef cattle. Many thanks go to Tom Kilcer of Advanced Ag Systems. Kilcer received his agronomy degree in 1978 from Iowa State University. He spent 33 years in New York Extension, doing forage research, teaching and consult- ing through Cornell University. After retiring from Cornell, he conducted 12 years of forage research privately at Advanced Ag Systems, a private research, consulting and education firm. His Whole Farm System approach has enabled upstate New York agriculture Scientific Advancements Give Us Another Option to improve and flourish. Much of his work may be found on his website in newsletter form, at advancedagsystems.com . Why Should Cattle Feeders Look at Forage Sorghum? There are several angles to consider when comparing forage sorghum to corn. First, the genetic resistance to corn root- worm is slowly breaking down. Kilcer’s research shows that planting sorghum in rotation with corn for only one year will break the life cycle of corn rootworm; there will be no eggs laid in the rotated field. Forage sorghums have a more aggres- sive, finer and deeper root system than corn plants, improving the soil structure. Additionally, forage sorghums are drilled in narrow rows that canopy quickly. This means soil stays porous, intercepting the impact of rain and aerating soils to the advantage of crops. Canopies provide great weed control within three weeks of planting and protect against soil erosion, which is reduced by 50 percent. In variety trials at the Canadian border, sorghum silage tonnage, har- vested, has beaten corn by up to 18 per- cent. Other production plusses include increased tolerance of poorer soils and hillsides. Cost of seed is much less, aver- aging $120 per acre for corn vs. $20 per acre for sorghums. Drought tolerance is found across the board with sorghums, as well. This reduces or possibly eliminates irrigation expense. Although corn farmers have not suffered much (yet) from govern- ment intervention concerning irrigation in the Plains states, this is a topic that is likely to become a hot issue in the future. Those of us living above the Ogallala Aquifer are aware of our lucky location, as well as a looming threat from environ- mental activists. Sorghums would help to ease that problem with their hardiness in dry weather. Additionally, in the heat of summer, corn stops growing above 85 degrees, sorghum at 105 degrees. At Roanoke, Va., during the growing season, 69 percent of the days were too hot for corn to grow, but the sorghum kept growing. Farmers have found that later spring planting dates for sorghums allow a better balance of workload, as well. But What About Nutrient Value? First, it is imperative to test your sorghum feedstuffs and include your nutritionist to make sure you have a bal- anced, optimum ration. “Forage sorghum silage is not corn silage!” Kilcer warns. Some adjustments need to be made to nearly every ration, regardless of crop. That is life. That being said, Kilcer maintains the nutritional value of fermented brown midrib (BMR) forage sorghums are comparable to or even better than corn silage when managed properly. Hard Forage Sorghums provide an acceptable alternative to corn silage. Beneficial crop rotation, drought resistance, heat tolerance and the ability to thrive in poorer soils are big advantages included in a wide genetic base. Photo courtesy Advanced Ag Systems