 |
ProCrop |
Use Caution Grazing Grass Sorghums
Prussic acid poisoning is always a possibility when grazing grass sorghums and the forage sorghums. Grass sorghums include sudangrass varieties and hybrids and crosses, and sudangrass- sorghum crosses. Forage sorghums include all forage type varieties and crosses.
The potential for prussic acid poisoning is greatest when grazing forage sorghum varieties and crosses, less when grazing sorghum-sudangrass crosses. Piper sudangrass usually has the least poisoning potential; hybrid sudangrasses have slightly more.
* PRECAUTION #1 - Know which grass or forage sorghum is being grown. The variety or hybrid being grown will provide a clue to potential poisoning problems. Do not graze hungary livestock as poisoning potential increases with amount of forage consumed.
* PRECAUTION #2 - Graze sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass crosses at 18 to 24 inches or taller to reduce the potential danger of prussic acid poisoning. If plants show visible signs of moisture stress, have plants tested before grazing.
* PRECAUTION #3 - Never graze regrowth or new tiller growth forage until 18 to 24 inches tall and graze after a killing frost only when the plants have dried.
* PRECAUTION #4 - Use care when grazing lightly frosted sudangrass-sorghum forage for about one week following the last light frost.
* PRECAUTION #5 - If a killing frost occurs, allow the plants to dry for a period of 5 to 7 days or more before grazing again.
Back to Annual
Forages - Hay Menu
Back to Hay Menu
Back to Main ProCrop Index
