Semental, the market leader in BMR sorghum, now offers a range of ten varieties covering all maturity stages. Thanks to this diversity, it is now possible to grow BMR sorghum in a variety of regions, ranging from the Pyrenees to the Ardennes, and from Brest to Strasbourg. This forage is distinguished by its ability to provide a form of energy different from that derived from starch, while ensuring a reliable forage supply thanks to its drought resistance.
However, it is important to note that sorghum needs water to germinate and reach a height of 50 to 60 cm. Once this stage is past, its resistance to environmental stress becomes greater than that of corn. For successful cultivation, it is recommended to manage sorghum as you would corn: use a precision seeder, perform careful soil preparation, weed mechanically or chemically, harvest with a forage harvester, and store in a silo.
Semental also emphasizes the importance of analyzing the nutritional value of BMR sorghums by sending samples to laboratories equipped with the appropriate algorithms. In 2021, results showed excellent UFL levels, with energy derived from both sugars and fiber. Fiber digestibility and fiber content remain very high, and the balance of intestinal digestible protein (IDP) is maintained. When the ration contains at least 30% sorghum, cows ruminate more, leading to an increase in butterfat content of at least 1 g/L. The animals’ health improves, and gains are observed in terms of production and fertility.
Analyses conducted in 2021 revealed the following nutritional values for BMR sorghum:
Lablab, a tropical legume, can be combined with corn by mixing the two seeds in equal proportions. This combination aims to improve the nutritional value of silage, particularly by increasing the total nitrogen content (TNC), balancing the digestible proteins in the intestine (PDIE/PDIN), and improving the fiber content and digestibility. It also helps reduce the starch content in silage.
However, for this combination to be fully effective, it is crucial to follow a rigorous technical protocol. Work is currently underway to facilitate the cultivation of this species, particularly with regard to weed control and seed inoculation. To date, no effective inoculum for lablab has been approved for the market by ANSES. Semental and INRAE are actively collaborating to offer farmers a reliable solution to improve the results of this combination.
The 2021 results show the differences between corn alone and the corn-lablab combination:
| MS as a percentage | UFL | Digestibility of organic matter (dMO) in % | Starch (%) | MAT as a percentage | PDIE in g/kg DM | PDIN in g/kg DM | NDF in g/kg DM | dNDF in g/kg DM | Mineral matter (MM) in g/kg DM | Calcium (Ca) in g/kg DM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 34,8 | 0,93 | 69,9 | 32,5 | 6,8 | 62 | 42 | 42,6 | 43,9 | 4,0 | 2,1 |
| Corn & Lablab Association | 31,1 | 0,92 | 69,6 | 28,2 | 8,5 | 65 | 52 | 45,8 | 48,2 | 4,5 | 3,4 |
| Difference | -3,7 | -0,01 | -0,3 | -4,2 | +1,7 | +2 | +11 | +3,2 | +4,3 | +0,5 | +1,3 |
This comparison highlights the benefits of the corn-lablab combination, including an increase in total nitrogen content (TNC) and improved fiber digestibility, while slightly reducing the starch content.
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