The Amino Acid Content and Availability of Different Strains of Grain Sorghum to the Chick

Abstract

GRAIN sorghum is becoming increasingly important to the broiler industry in the United States. The widespread production of this feedstuff and the use of computer formulation in the poultry industry has made it necessary that more information relative to its amino acid content and availability be obtained. At present there is a considerable amount of conflicting information relative to the nutritive value of the various hybrids. Chang and Fuller (1964), and Fuller et al. (1966) reported that grain sorghum with high tannin content had reduced feeding value. They also reported that grain sorghum varieties which had a brown seed color and open heads were characteristically high in tannin and had reduced feeding values. Stephenson et al. (1968) and Damron et al. (1968) found that the seed coat color and tightness of the heads were not good indices on which to grade nutrient value. Several of the hybrids which had the…