Sorghum Sudan Grass 1KG

• Appearance: It is a tall, slender, and leafy annual grass that can grow to a height of 3 to 8 feet.

• Growth habit: Known for its rapid growth and excellent regrowth after cutting or grazing, which allows for multiple harvests in a single season.

• Adaptation: It is well-suited to hot, dry climates and well-drained soils, making it resilient during periods of drought.

• Hybrids: Sudan grass is often crossbred with grain sorghum to produce sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. These hybrids are more productive but have thicker stems and larger leaves than pure sudan grass. 

Uses in East Africa 

• Livestock feed: Sudan grass is primarily used as a forage for ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats. It can be fed fresh (cut-and-carry), grazed, or preserved as hay or silage.

• Summer forage: Its drought resistance makes it a valuable feed source during the summer months when perennial pastures may be dormant or stressed.

• Emergency crop: Due to its fast growth and high yield, it can be planted as an emergency forage to address feed shortages. 

Important safety consideration 

• Prussic acid poisoning: A significant risk with sudan grass, particularly after a drought or frost, is the accumulation of prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide). This can be toxic to livestock.

  • To mitigate this, it is recommended to test the forage for toxins and follow proper harvesting and grazing management practices, such as delaying grazing after a frost and not harvesting young or stressed plants.

  • Grazing should not occur until the grass is at least 20–24 inches tall.