Effect of Tannin Content of Grain Sorghums on Their Feeding Value for Growing Chicks

Abstract

FROM an agronomic standpoint grain sorghum varieties with open heads and brown seeds are better adapted to the humid Southeast than are those having compact heads and white, red, or yellow seeds. Characteristically the brown seeded varieties are also higher in tannin which is commonly thought to affect their palatability for livestock. McClymont (1952) found that grain sorghum could be used successfully to replace wheat in the diet of laying hens, but when grain sorghum was used in the ration of growing chicks at levels of 28–63%, a growth depression up to 50% occurred. He concluded that the effect was most likely caused by some toxic factor. Berry (1954) reported that white or red grain sorghum (milo) can replace, corn, wheat or oats in the scratch feed of laying hens without loss of egg production. Thayer et al. (1957) compared several new varieties of grain sorghums based upon their…