Relationship of Protein Level of Sorghum Grain to its Nutritive Value as Measured by Chick Performance and Amino Acid Composition

Abstract

SORGHUM grain is one of the major cereal grains used in diets of poultry and swine in the Great Plains. Protein content of sorghum grain is affected by such factors as location, hybridization and nitrogen fertilization (Burleson et al., 1956; Byrid et al., 1960; Miller et al., 1964). Protein variation results in amino acid variation in the grain (Deyoe and Shellenberger, 1965). Information is lacking on the nutritive value of sorghum grains with variable protein levels in poultry diets. Also, there is less than perfect agreement regarding the limiting amino acids in protein of sorghum grain. Adrain and Sayerse (1957) stated that the limiting amino acid in millet and sorghum was lysine. Mangay et al. (1957) suggested that millet was deficient in lysine but contained a high percentage of tryptophan. However, Baptist (1954) found that sorghum (tropical varieties) was low not only in lysine but also in methionine and tryptophan… .