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Factors Affecting the In Vitro Digestibility of High Moisture Sorghum Grain^{1, 2,}

Oklahoma State University⁴, Stillwater 74074

Abstract

SORGHUM grain is normally harvested, stored and fed at moisture levels of 12 to 15%. However, sorghum grain can be successfully harvested with conventional equipment at moisture levels near 40%, and the moisture level of air dry sorghum grain can be increased to moisture levels of 20 to 40% by exposing the grain to water ("reconstituting"). In both cases, preservation of the high moisture grain necessitates oxygen-limited storage.

The utilization of sorghum grain by cattle can be improved by both high-moisture-harvesting and reconstituting (Brethour and Duitsman, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964; Franke et al., 1960; McGinty and Riggs, 1967; Parrett and Riggs, 1967; Riggs, 1962; Riggs et al., 1959; Totusek et al., 1967). However, the effects of several harvesting and processing factors which may influence the nutritional value of high-moisture sorghum grain have not been clearly elucidated.

One objective of these experiments was to determine the influence of (1) level of grain moisture, (2) length of storage time, and (3) environmental temperature during storage on the in vitro digestibility of both high-moisture harvested and reconstituted sorghum grains.

¹ Journal Article 2021 of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. This reseach was supported in part by grants from Farmland Industries, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri and Illinois A. O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc., Arlington Heights, Illinois.

² The assistance of J. V. Whiteman in statistical analysis, R. D. Morrison in statistical analysis and computer programming and Rollin Thayer in reviewing the manuscript is gratefully acknowledged.

³ Present address: Mercedes, Texas.

⁴ Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.