Download of copy of the Sugar Sweet forage sorghum fact sheet
Sugar Sweet is fine stemmed and super sweet forage sorghum ensuring a flexible and versatile forage option. It has finer stems and higher levels of leaf than other traditional sweet sorghums but still offers equivalent brix levels and forage yields per hectare.
Key features
• Sweet sorghum x sorghum sudan hybrid
• High energy feed with superior sugar content
• Quality increases with maturity
• Excellent standover feed for late grazing into autumn and winter
• Suited to beef grazing, carry over feed and silage
• Flexible planting window (early-late) and fine stems ensure low waste
• Very high DM production
• Leafy plant with more juicy and sweet stems
Product fit
Producers looking for a super sweet forage that has finer stems and higher levels of leaf than traditional sweet sorghums (increasing palatability and reducing feed wastage) but still offers equivalent brix levels and forage yields.
Management & agronomy
Sugar Sweet has finer stems and higher levels of leaf than other traditional sweet sorghums but still offers equivalent brix levels and forage yields per hectare. Favourable growing conditions will allow for multiple cuts or grazing throughout the season.
It can be planted early or late in the season for late summer or carry over feed. The high sugar content improves feed quality, increases palatability and results in minimal feed wastage. The sugar content and feed value of Sugar Sweet increases as the plant matures, but it is recommended to initiate first grazing at 1m-1.5m (3-4ft) tall to increase biomass productivity.
For maximum regrowth retain at least 15cm of stubble when grazed or cut for silage. When used for a hay crop, Sugar Sweet should be cut well before flowering, but also makes very good silage especially in areas with less favourable crop yields and is suited to both pit silage or bailage. Cutting late, around 2m-2.5m tall is possible to increase bulk, but this reduces regrowth potential and feed quality.
Suggested sowing rates
Marginal Dryland:* 3-7kg/ha
Good Dryland:* 7-20kg/ha
Irrigation: 15-20kg/ha
*Dryland planting rates based on good stored soil moisture at time of sowing.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this brochure is from official and other sources and is considered to be reliable. It is provided in good faith and every care has been taken to ensure its accuracy. Barenbrug does not accept any responsibility for the consequences that may arise from the acceptance of recommendations or the suggestions made.