All Sudan/Sorghum forages are good choices for dairy and beef cattle feed. The choice of forage will be heavily dependent on seasonal needs and intended harvest management @ silage, pasture, green-chop, etc.

Can cows graze Sudan grass?

When grazing sorghum-sudangrass, move animals so they leave 6 to 8 inches of stubble. However, they might waste 20 to 30 percent of the forage through grazing. Lastly, sorghums and sudangrasses are luxury consumers of potassium and shouldn’t be used for dry cow forages.

What grass makes the best hay for cattle?

Alfalfa- It is probably the best high quality feed for livestock and as a cash crop but it requires deep, well drained soils and high fertility for high yields. While it can be used for grazing, it is best adapted for hay or silage.

What is Sudan hay used for?

Forage sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids (sudax) are exceptionally heat and drought tolerant annual crops that are used for cover, grazing, green chop, hay, and silage. Because of the drought and hay shortage, many acres of these crops have been planted this year for emergency forage in Michigan.

Is Sudan grass toxic?

Sudangrass and sorghum are two of a group of plants that produce cyanide, which can poison livestock under certain conditions. These plants, called cyanogenetic plants, produce cyanogenetic glucosides during their growing stage.

Do cows eat sudangrass?

for cattle do not graze them until they are 18 to 24 inches tall. grazed until after the plant is completely killed by frost and dried. Do not graze sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass hybrids following a series of light frosts, as the potential for poisoning increases for a short period of time after frosts.

What kind of hay is best for beef cattle?

Mature beef cattle can get by on rather plain hay—of any type—but if lactating they will need adequate protein. Good palatable grass hay, cut while still green and growing, can be very adequate, but if grass hay is coarse and dry (with little vitamin A or protein), you’ll need to add some legume hay to their diet.

What is the best hay to feed beef cattle?

Most experts recommend mixing alfalfa with grass hay, rather than relying exclusively on alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is often recommended for dairy cattle, but may not be a good fit for beef cattle, since it can lead to bloat. Legume hay is another nutritious option for cattle, since it’s high in protein.

How can I make my hay more palatable for cattle?

Hay with more than 20% moisture can mold, and mold is probable at 22% moisture. At about 12% moisture, hay starts to be brittle. Brittle hay can be softened, however, with the addition of water. Though moistening of dry hay will improve its palatability to livestock, it won’t improve its nutritional quality.

How fast does Sudan grass grow?

When soil temperatures at planting are from 50 to 60º F, sudangrass germination drops to 25-60%, and plants require 14 to 21 days to emerge. At soil temperatures above 60º F, germination is increased to 90-96%, requiring 4-6 days to emergence.

Can you broadcast Sudan grass?

In early to mid-June, plant the sorghum-sudangrass. Drill at 35 to 40 lb per acre, as deep as 2 inches to reach moist soil. If surface moisture is adequate, broadcasting the seed is an option; however, increase the rate to 45 to 50 lb per acre.

How thick do you plant Sudan grass?

Seeding depth should be between 1⁄2 and 1 inch. Seeding depths greater than 1 inch should be avoided. Grazing should be initiated when these grasses are at least 20 inches tall. Cut for hay or wilted silage once stands reach 30 to 40 inches.

What does Sorghum Sudan grass look like?

Sorghum-sudangrass grows 5 to 12 feet tall with long, slender leaves, stalks up to one-half inch in diameter and aggressive root systems. Mowing whenever stalks reach 3 to 4 feet tall increases root mass five to eight times compared with unmowed stalks, and forces the roots to penetrate deeper.

Is Sudan grass an annual or perennial?

Sorghum-sudangrass is a cross between sorghum and sudangrass. It is a finer stemmed warm season annual grass when compared to forage sorghum and will regrow after each harvest. It can grow up to 15 feet tall and typically has small seed heads.

How do you cut Sudan grass?

High or low cut? The typical cutting height recommendation for sorghum-sudangrass is to leave two nodes or about 6 inches of stubble to enhance regrowth. However, some recommendations suggest to cut lower in an effort to boost yields and promote tillering from plant crowns.

Is Sudan grass hay good for horses?

Sorghum-sudan grass has good yield potential, especially in dry years. You can use it as a pasture or hay but it’s most commonly used during periods of high temperatures and drought. Sorghum-sudan grass isn’t a common horse feed, but you can feed it during droughts, especially when other forage is limited.

Is Sudan grass toxic after a frost?

High levels of the toxic compounds are produced within hours after a frost. If new shoots develop after a frost they will have high poisoning potential, sudangrass should not be grazed until the new growth is at least 18 to 20 inches (24 to 30 inches for sorghum-sudangrass).

Where did Sudan grass come from?

Sorghum × drummondii (Sudan grass), is a hybrid-derived species of grass raised for forage and grain, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Africa. The plant is cultivated in Southern Europe, South America, Central America, North America and Southern Asia, for forage or as a cover crop.