SUMMER FORAGE pROdUct inFORMAtiOn - Directrouter.com

SUMMER FORAGE
product information
contents:
SWEET JUMBO LPA.............. 2
SUPERDAN 2.......................... 3
SPRINT..................................... 4
SUGARGRAZE....................... 5
CHOPPER................................ 6
NECTAR................................... 8
NUTRIFEED............................ 9
PACIFIC BMR........................10
OCTANE BMR .....................11
SUMMER FORAGE
REFERENCE GUIDE............12
SUMMER FORAGE
AGRONOMY GUIDE.........13

Sweet Jumbo LPA Protein v's Height
Ultra late flowering
sorghum x sudan hybrid
Everything you’ve come to
expect from SWEET Jumbo,
with lower prussic acid
Key features
In terms of its plant type Sweet Jumbo LPA is similar to
Sweet Jumbo. Sweet Jumbo LPA has been selected for a
lower level of prussic acid. Laboratory results have shown
the prussic acid potential of this new hybrid to be well
below that of Sweet Jumbo.
Sweet Jumbo LPA has been bred and selected for:
Very high leaf production
High sugar levels for good palatability
A lower level of prussic acid (HCN)
High dry matter yield.
The combination of these features should result in very
good utilisation under all grazing conditions.
Full season forage hybrid
Like Jumbo and Sweet Jumbo, Sweet Jumbo LPA has
the ultra late flowering characteristic, which means
plants produce more leaf throughout the season. This
results in better feed quality and improved animal
performance. In South-East Queensland trials, sown in
mid October, Sweet Jumbo LPA took 155 days to flower.
This late flowering nature makes management easier,
but it is still preferable to use the forage when it is
around 1m tall. Under favourable conditions, regrowth
is rapid with potential for a number of grazings throughout
the season.
Protein Protein (%) (%)
24.0
22.0
2
Sweet Jumbo LPA Protein v's Height R = 0.9231
20.0
18.0 24.0
16.0 22.0
2
14.0
R = 0.9231
20.0
12.0 18.0
10.0 16.0
14.0 8.0
12.0 6.0
90 120 150 180 210 240 270
10.0
8.0
Height (cm)
6.0
Sweet Jumbo LPA Metabolisable Energy v's Height
Metabolisable Energy
(MJ/ kg) (MJ/ kg)
Metabolisable Energy
90 120 150 180 210 240 270
Height (cm)
11.0
Sweet Jumbo LPA Metabolisable Energy v's Height
10.5
10.0
2
R = 0.8602
11.0 9.5
10.5 9.0
10.0 8.5
2
R = 0.8602
8.0 9.5
7.5 9.0
7.0 8.5
8.090 120 150 180 210 240 270
7.5
Height (cm)
7.0
90 120 150 180 210 240
The above should be taken as a guide only as environmental
270
Height (cm)
conditions will affect variety performance.
Good vigour in cool soils
Pacific Seeds recommends sowing after the soil
temperature reaches 16°C or higher. However, many
growers base their time of sowing more on when spring
rainfall occurs than on soil temperature. In a series of
trials, Sweet Jumbo LPA has been shown to have very good
establishment in cool soils.
Grazing management
Sweet Jumbo LPA is ultra late flowering but this does not
mean grazing should be unnecessarily delayed. It is still
recommended to use the crop when it is around 1m tall.
Under favourable conditions this height should be reached
approximately six weeks after sowing.
Ideal for grazing, greenchop or hay
Sweet Jumbo LPA is a versatile hybrid, ideally suited to
either intensive or range grazing. It can also be used for
greenchop or for making hay, round bale or pit silage.
Guide to SWEET JUMBO LPA production potential
Good dryland Hay production
Continuous grazing partial potential with Silage potential
irrigation some irrigation
Number of 400kg beasts/ha
Rotational DM Tonnes of silage/ha
grazing production
at 68% MC
Grazings
Number per season t/ha Number Production Number Plastic Pit silage
Coast or Good Tough of weeks Mid Oct per of cuts at /cut of cuts wrap per (one cut
irrigation dryland dryland grazing plant season 1.5 metre (t/ha) cut only)
Sweet
Jumbo 7 3 2 8-14 3-4 14 3-4 5-6 2-3 20 30-70
LPA
2
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage

New Superdan type hybrid
First choice for sheep,
hay OR round bale silage
Key features
Superdan was a significantly improved sudan grass hybrid
compared to what was previously available. Now Superdan
2 delivers:
Sudan X Sudan as is Superdan. Therefore fine stems and
is ideal for hay
Similar seed size to Superdan. Therefore use the same
planting rates
Higher leaf to stem ratio than Superdan
Sweeter than Superdan
More flexibility and easier to manage
Flowers seven days earlier than Superdan on a mid
October plant
Agronomically similar to Superdan.
Late flowering
Although Superdan 2 is late flowering it is not ultra
late flowering like Jumbo and is therefore not quite as
productive in late summer. Shortening day lengths will
induce Superdan 2 to flower around the end of January in
Southern Australia.
Because of this delayed flowering, Superdan 2 produces a
greater bulk of higher quality feed than traditional sudan
grasses. This results in high dry matter production and high
carrying capacity.
Grazing & cutting management
The grazing and cutting systems for Superdan 2 are the
same as for other forage sorghums.
The speed and total recovery after haymaking, particularly
in damp conditions, is excellent. Under favourable growing
conditions Superdan 2 should reach one metre in height
approximately seven weeks from planting. Fig 1 and 2 show
the decline in digestibility and protein levels with age.
Protein (%) (%)
Superdan 2 Height v's Protein
Superdan Height v's Protein
30.0
30.0
25.0
25.0
20.0
Flowering
20.0
commenced Flowering
15.0
commenced
15.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
0.0
0.00.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.6
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.6
Height (m)
Height (m)
Fig 1
Superdan 2 Height v's Metabolisable Energy
Superdan 2 Height v's Metabolisable Energy
Metabolisable Energy
(MJ/kg)
10.5
10.0 10.5
10.0 9.5
9.0 9.5
8.5 9.0
8.0 8.5
7.5 8.0
Flowering
commenced Flowering
commenced
7.0 7.5
7.0
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.6
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.6
Fig 2
Height (m)
Height (m)
Results from a trial conducted by Pacific Seeds Forage Team showing
the effect of growth stage on crude protein and metabolisable energy of
Superdan 2. Sampling started when the crop was 0.6m and continued at
regular intervals for seven weeks until plants had flowered.
Superdan 2 will provide the best productivity if grazed from
approximately one metre. This will ensure maximum quality
and rapid regrowth. For hay or round bale silage makers,
Superdan 2 provides more flexibility than traditional forages
due to its later flowering. For the best bulk it can be cut at
two metres high but for better regrowth and higher quality
feed, earlier cutting is recommended.
Fine stems make better hay
Superdan 2 has a much finer stem than other forage
sorghums. This makes it ideal for hay production as the
fine stems result in a quicker dry down. This also results
in a softer, better quality hay.
Rapid regrowth
Superdan 2’s rapid regrowth means that there will be less
time between grazings and cuttings. This increases its ability
to carry large numbers of stock on a small area.
Ideal for sheep
Sheep prefer the finer stems of Superdan 2 to that of
other forage sorghums. Superdan 2 is also very tolerant
of heavy grazing.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 3

New sudan x sudan hybrid
IDEAL FOR HAY, ROUND BALE
SILAGE OR INTENSIVE GRAZING
in the short summers of
southern australia
Key features
Quick flowering in 66 days (Superdan 2 flowers
in 90 days and Speedfeed in 67 days on a mid
October plant).
Very fine stems, with prolific tillering (finer stems
than Superdan 2).
Rapid growth and regrowth, the fastest of all
our varieties.
Good cold soil emergence
Very high dry matter production (see table below).
PAC F8411 is the only quick flowering sudan x sudan hybrid
commercially available. All other quick flowering varieties
are sudan x sorghum hybrids with thicker stems. Because
of this quick flowering characteristic it is ideally suited to
the shorter growing season of Southern Australia and New
Zealand or in situations where it can be well managed i.e.
hay making or intensive grazing.
Hybrid Cut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3
Total DM
Yield (t/ha)
Initial Growth
Flowering time (days)
Sprint 3.7 6.5 5.1 15.4 66
Speedfeed 2 2.8 5.3 4.8 12.9 67
Bettergraze 2.9 5.2 4.5 12.6 67
4
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage

Sweet sorghum x sweet
sorghum hybrid
FOR GRAZING, WINTER
STANDOVER AND PIT SILAGE
Key features
Very high Dry Matter production
Very high sugar levels
Wide range of disease resistances
Wide chopping window for quality silage.
Not only is it the preferred hybrid for later sowings
to provide autumn-winter feed but it is also ideal for
early sowings as it can be utilised at any stage during the
summer, autumn or winter.
Recommended uses of Sugargraze
Makes very good silage in areas less favourable to high
grain crop yields (eg corn and sorghum)
Ideal for pit silage.
Grazing and cutting management
Grazing of young crops can commence once the feed is
1.5m high
For maximum regrowth retain at least 15cm of stubble
when grazed or cut for silage
If used for hay the crop should be cut well before
flowering, a mower conditioner is essential due to
thick stalks.
Since the advent of sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) the
heads of flowering forage sorghum crops may be infected
with ergot if conditions are favourable. For more details on
ergot contact your local Dept of Agriculture.
Productivity and feed quality
The big benefit Sugargraze has over other forages is its very
high sugar content. Sugargraze has been tested at 35% sugar
by NSW Department of Agriculture.
The high sugar content improves feed quality, increases
palatability and results in very minimal feed wastage even
when used for late season and winter feed. The sugar
levels in the plant increase as the plant matures with the
highest levels occurring after flowering, during the seed
set stage. This is the stage at which Sugargraze should be
chopped for silage.
As well as the large increases in sugar content, other
significant differences in feed quality occur, as shown below.
The slow decline in the digestibility percentage (as would
be expected) is reversed and actually improves as the
sugar levels rise. As feed energy level is closely linked to
digestibility, the feed value remains good, apart from the
falling protein level. This explains why many graziers report
that cattle ‘do well’ on mature Sugargraze which appears
dry and of little value.
Mature Sugargraze provides adequate energy for
good weight gains. If other young feed is not available,
protein supplementation to stock in the form of urea
and some ‘protected’ protein would greatly improve
livestock performance.
Results from a trial conducted by Pacific Seeds Forage Research Team showing the effect of growth stage on crude protein and metabolisable energy of
Sugargraze. Sampling started when the crop was 1.4m and continued at regular intervals for eight weeks until plants had flowered.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 5

Sorghum x sorghum
Maturity
Days to flower: 64-72 Qld; 70-78 NSW
Chopper reaches soft dough stage which is the
recommended cutting stage, about 25 days after
flowering or between 85-95 days from planting.
Plant type
A tall late maturing grain sorghum, Chopper grows to
a height of 2 metres. It is a very vigorous plant with an
attractive, broad shiny leaf. It produces a large, solid white
grain sorghum head. Grain fill is excellent and grain size
is medium to large. Chopper planting seed is large and
vigorous, which makes it easy to plant and ensures good
even establishment.
Yield potential
Under irrigated conditions Chopper has a grain yield
potential of 7-9t/ha. Silage yields of 30 - 50t/ha @ 68%
moisture content have been recorded.
Under dryland conditions grain yields vary from
2.5 - 5.5t/ha and silage yields from 20-35t/ha @ 68%
moisture content.
While Chopper can produce a good grain yield it is not
recommended as a grain hybrid, because the height of the
plant would jeopardise the standability at full maturity.
Feed quality
Under good growing conditions the quality of silage obtained
from Chopper will be similar to that achieved with corn.
Protein (%)
Specialist silage sorghum
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
Chopper Protein v's Height
Dough stage
0.0
0.8 1.8 1.9
Height
Mature grain
Digestibility 60 - 65%
Protein 7 - 9.8%
Metabolisable energy 9 - 10.5 MJ/Kg
Planting recommendations
Chopper is recommended for use as pit or bunker silage,
in irrigated or dryland situations. While potential yield of
the initial crop is not as high as corn, Chopper’s ability to
ratoon can give greater overall yields than corn in some
situations. Chopper is considered a much more reliable
option than corn in hot and/or dry conditions.
Planting rate
Marginal dryland
Favourable dryland
Irrigated-high rainfall
2.5 - 4 kg/ha
4 - 6 kg/ha
6 - 8 kg/ha
Cutting recommendations
It is important to cut Chopper when it reaches the milky
to soft dough stage. Delaying cutting after this can affect
the quality of the feed and may result in lodging of the
crop. Soft dough stage should be reached 85-95 days from
planting. At this time the crop will be around 68% moisture
and can be ensiled without wilting.
Regrowth
In comparison to other silage sorghums Chopper has
demonstrated excellent regrowth potential. Under good
growing conditions a second cut is possible.
Second cut yields as high as 30t/ha @ 68% moisture have
been recorded with grain yields of over 4t/ha.
Chopper Protein v's Height
Total yield over two cuts can exceed 60t/ha. Chopper
30.0
may be grazed after cutting in these situations however,
25.0
growers should be aware of prussic acid. Precautions
20.0
taken in grazing other grain Dough sorghum stage or forage sorghum
15.0
Mature grain
regrowth should be followed especially if the crop is
10.0
stressed, or has new regrowth. The provision of salt
5.0
licks with 10% sulphur will assist grazing animals to detoxify
0.0
the prussic 0.8 acid.
1.8 1.9
Protein (%)
Metabolisable Energy
(MJ/kg)
Height
Chopper Metabolisable Energy v's Height
10.5
10.0
9.5
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.5
Dough stage
7.0
0.8 1.8 1.9
Height (m)
Mature grain
6
tabolisable Energy
(MJ/kg)
Results from a trial conducted by Pacific Seeds Forage Team showing the effect of growth stage on crude protein and metabolisable energy of
Chopper Chopper. Sampling Metabolisable started when Energy the crop was v's 0.8m Height and continued at regular intervals for ten weeks until plants had flowered.
10.5
10.0
9.5
9.0
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage
8.5
8.0
Dough stage
Mature grain

Sweet sorghum x
sudan hybrid
Value and versatility - the
complete all rounder
Key features
The most versatile forage from Pacific Seeds. Nectar
combines the easy grazing management of sweet
sorghum with the high productivity and fast vegetative
growth of sudan grass
It is ideally suited for grazing throughout summer and
into late autumn, due to its high stem sugar content
Stems are smaller in diameter than Sugargraze, and will
usually tiller more, particularly after grazing. Following
grazing, regrowth is faster than Sugargraze
As with Sugargraze, (as plants mature), sugar
content rises, resulting in improved feed palatability
and energy levels.
Grazing management
Nectar can be used in the same manner as Sugargraze.
However the faster regrowth of Nectar will give higher
productivity. Similar growing management practices to
Sweet Jumbo and Superdan should be used in high
yielding situations.
Nectar is best used as follows:
Planted during late summer to provide an autumn
winter standover feed. (Since the advent of sorghum
ergot (Claviceps Africana) late planted crops of forage
sorghum may be infected with ergot if conditions are
favourable. For more details on ergot contact your
local Dept of Agriculture.)
Can be planted in early summer and used as a summer
grazing feed and also as autumn – winter feed. Grazing
of young crops can commence once the feed is one
metre high.
As pit or round bale silage in areas less favourable to
high corn yields.
In combination with oats to provide much needed
roughage.
If regrowth is required after grazing or cutting for silage,
retain at least 15cm (6in) of standing plant.
Nectar and oats
The use of Nectar in combination with oats has gained
acceptance in the grazing industry for both cattle and sheep,
as it provides much needed roughage in the initial stages
of grazing when the oats are most lush. Nectar provides
roughage if dry paddock grass is not available. It also
reduces the need for hay supplement with the first grazing.
The recommended sowing rate is to plant 0.25kg/ha of
Nectar with the oats. Sowing rates higher than this result in
too much competition for the oats. This technique is only
suited to February – March sowings, depending on location.
Productivity and feed quality
Under intensive grazing, Nectar will out yield sweet
sorghums, mainly due to its faster regrowth following
grazing. Nectar has similar maturity to Sugargraze, making
it easy to manage. Even if the crop has gone to head, the
high sugar content results in good palatability and minimal
Nectar Height v's Protein
feed wastage.
Nectar 25.0has shown the ability to outyield Sugargraze by
25% and 20.0 is only 4% lower than Jumbo for total season yield
(average 15.0 results from three years of trials).
Protein (%)
30.0
10.0
Regrowth
5.0
Nectar regrowth is faster than Sugargraze – but slightly
0.0
slower than Superdan.
1.0 1.2 1.6 1.9 2.4 2.8 3.0
Height (m)
End of
flowering
Seed setting
Protein (%)
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
Nectar Height v's Protein
0.0
1.0 1.2 1.6 1.9 2.4 2.8 3.0
Height (m)
End of
flowering
Seed setting
Metabolisable Energy (MJ/kg)
Nectar Height v's Metabolisable Energy
10.5
10.0
9.5
9.0
Seed setting
8.5
End of flowering
8.0
7.5
7.0
1.0 1.2 1.6 1.9 2.4 2.8 3.0
Height (m)
8
Results from a trial conducted by Pacific Seeds’ Forage Research Team showing the effect of growth stage on crude protein and metabolisable energy of
Nectar. Sampling Height started v's when Metabolisable the crop was one metre Energy and continued at regular intervals for eight weeks until plants had flowered.
lisable Energy (MJ/kg)
10.5
10.0
9.5
9.0
Seed setting
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage
8.5
End of flowering
8.0

FORAGE PENNISETUM
Summer forage with the
feed quality of oats
Key features
Nutrifeed is a high quality forage that can provide livestock
productivity in summer similar to that of oats in winter.
It has digestibility and protein levels similar to oats, ryegrass
and Lab lab and unlike forage sorghum, contains no prussic
acid. Nutrifeed has a valuable role to play in Australia’s
grazing industry, especially in the more reliable rainfall areas
of eastern Australia.
Grazing management
Nutrifeed poses no risk of prussic acid poisoning, therefore
it can be grazed at a much earlier stage than forage
sorghum. For best results graze early - as soon as the plants
are not easily pulled out of the ground. There may not
appear to be a lot of feed at this stage, but due to quick
regrowth and high tillering capacity, feed supply is good.
Soil and paddock selection
Although Nutrifeed can produce exceptional livestock
productivity, it does require suitable soil and management
conditions to achieve this. Being a forage pennisetum, a
good well drained soil is required. The rule of thumb “If it’s
not good farming country, it’s not good for Nutrifeed” is
an excellent one to start with. Because Nutrifeed has small
seed (60,000 to 80,000 seeds/kg) it is important to plant
into a well prepared seed bed where good soil to seed
contact can be achieved.
Top quality feed
Figures 1 & 2 show the protein and digestibility of Nutrifeed
as plants grow taller. From these graphs it is easy to
compare the feed quality as the forage matures. Looking just
at the graph lines the benefits of early grazing are clearly
evident, i.e. using the crop before seven weeks of age or
before 80cm in height. As similar patterns would apply to
subsequent growth, frequent grazings of regrowth will also
result in feed of the highest quality throughout the season.
When grazing is delayed beyond the ideal stage, Nutrifeed
still provides better feed quality than forage sorghum.
High energy
Similarly the energy requirements for both lactating and
fattening livestock can be met even if the crop is not grazed
until eight weeks after planting. If grazing is delayed longer
than this, the feed may be marginal for top productivity
but still more than covers the needs of other classes of
livestock. Maximum plant and animal productivity are
obtained if grazing commences early and the feed is kept
short and actively growing.
In summary, as many graziers have already discovered,
Nutrifeed provides excellent milk production and cattle
liveweight gains often in excess of 1kg/head/day.
Moisture stress induced unpalatability
Forage pennisetum is generally regarded as being very
drought tolerant once the crop is established.
Even under severe moisture stress, Nutrifeed may not
show many outward signs of stress apart from a slowing in
growth rate. Plants may remain relatively green and fresh
looking even when soil moisture is depleted and the crop
is, in fact, under severe stress. By comparison, a forage
sorghum crop under similar stress may show many outward
signs such as leaf curling, leaf death and a blue-green plant
colour. Despite the lack of visible stress symptoms in forage
pennisetums, they do suffer from severe moisture stress.
Subsequently some unseen changes may occur which can
affect the palatability of the forage.
Fig 1 Fig 2
Results from a trial conducted by Pacific Seeds’ Forage Research Team showing the effect of growth stage on crude protein and metabolisable energy
of Nutrifeed. Sampling started when the crop was 1.0m and continued at regular intervals for eight weeks until plants had flowered.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 9

Brown mid rib sorghum
x sudan hybrid
High energy feed
for livestock
Pacific BMR is an exciting new release from Pacific Seeds.
Pacific BMR has the BMR gene giving improved
digestibility and palatability (the benefits of BMR gene
are explained below.)
Pacific BMR has the following benefits:
Good standability
Very sweet stems, particularly in older growth.
What is BMR
The abbreviation BMR stands for brown mid rib, and refers
to the colour of the middle rib in the leaves. In non BMR
sorghum the middle ribs are usually green or white.
What are the benefits of BMR
Forage sorghum developed and bred to contain the BMR
gene, has less lignin and will be more digestible to stock.
Having less lignin also means the plants are softer and easier
for stock to graze. The net outcome of all this is animal
productivity can be increased from this type of forage.
Is there more than one type of BMR
Yes, there are a number of BMR genes originally developed
at a prominent North American University. The nutritional
benefits do vary with these different genes. Pacific Seeds
has chosen BMR genes to provide the best combination of
increased digestibility and agronomic performance.
Will stems show some brown too
They can, particularly on the lower sections of stem above
each node. In Pacific BMR there is usually a strong brown
colour on stems.
Do BMR plants have softer stems
Yes, the BMR advantage will be in both leaves
and stems. Conventional forage sorghum stems can
become increasingly hard with advancing height and
maturity, but BMR stems will be softer and easier
for stock to eat.
What about standability
Lodging can be a problem with some BMR varieties, if
they are allowed to grow well beyond their ideal grazing
height. In the Pacific Seeds Forage Breeding Program, good
standability is an important breeding objective. Parent lines
and hybrids are evaluated for standability under a range of
environmental conditions.
Pacific Seeds’ BMR hybrids
Pacific Seeds evaluated an early flowering BMR hybrid in the
mid 1990s, but its early maturity limited its performance.
A lot of effort has gone into developing a later maturity
hybrid, combining the BMR gene with other important
forage characteristics. The first release from this work is a
hybrid called Pacific BMR.
Laboratory analyses to date are very encouraging
with Pacific BMR showing a digestibility advantage
over other hybrids of 3-6%. This improved digestibility
translates to an extra 0.3-0.7 MJ/kg in metabolisable
energy (ME) value.
Maturity
Pacific BMR is later flowering than traditional forage
sorghum. In south east Queensland, Pacific BMR sown in
October will normally reach mid-flower in 83 days (early to
mid January).
Sweet stems
Pacific BMR is significantly sweeter than other sorghum x
sudan hybrids including Jumbo. This difference becomes
more noticeable in the older growth. This results in
increased palatability plus increased feed energy value.
Suitable for grazing, hay, greenchop or silage
Pacific BMR is suitable for intensive or range grazing,
greenchop, hay or silage. For pit silage allow the crop to
flower before cutting.
Plant Type and planting information Planting rates Feed quality
Pacific
BMR
Genetic type
Sorghum x
sudan
Time to
flower
late
Soil temp
required
for sowing
Above
16°C
Seed count
(seeds/kg)
Marginal
dryland
(kg/ha)
Favourable
dryland
(kg/ha)
Irrigation
or high
rainfall
(kg/ha)
Digestability
%
Protein
%
Ideal
grazing
height
32-36,000 3-5 5-10 15-20 59-65 12-18 1 metre
10
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage

0.0
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4
Height (m)
Pacific BMR Metabolisable Energy v's Height
Metabolisable Energy
(MJ/kg)
10.5
10.0
9.5
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.5
7.0
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4
Height (m)
Flowering
commenced
Early Seed Set
Protein (%)
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
Pacific BMR Protein v's Height
0.0
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4
Height (m)
Flowering
commenced
Early Seed Set
Results from a trial conducted by Pacific Seeds’ Forage Research Team showing the effect of growth stage on crude protein and metabolisable
energy of Pacific BMR. Sampling started when the crop was 0.6m and continued at regular intervals for eight weeks until plants had flowered.
NEW
Brown mid rib sorghum
x sudan hybrid
Pacific BMR Metabolisable Energy v's Height
Metabolisable Energy
(MJ/kg)
10.5
10.0
9.5
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.5
7.0
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4
Height (m)
Flowering
commenced
Early Seed Set
rev up your seASON
In comparison to Pacific BMR, advanced experimental hybrid Octane BMR is:
Longer in maturity - stays vegetative for longer
Shows better establishment under marginal moisture conditions
Shows slightly better dry matter production.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 11

Suitability of Use (5 = high suitability 1 = low suitability) Plant Type & Planting Information
Autumn
Forage
Sorghum Sheep Winter
Standover
Milk Production
Suitability
to Finish
Cattle
Roundbale
Silage
Pit Silage Hay
Carrying
Capacity
Ease of
management
Quick
Spring
Feed
Genetic
Type
Time
to
Flower
Soil
Temperature
for Sowing
Seed
count
(seeds/kg)
SWEET
JUMBO LPA
2 3 3 5 4 4 4 5 5 5
Sorghum
x Sudan
Ultra
late
Above 16°C 32,000 -
39,000
SUGARGRAZE
2 5 2 5 1 5 3 4 5 3
Sweet
sorghum
x Sweet
sorghum
Late Above 16°C 30,000 -
39,000
PACIFIC BMR 4 NS
5
5
5
4
5
4
4
3
BMR
(Sorghum
x Sudan)
Med Above 16°C 32,000 -
36,000
OCTANE BMR 4 NS
5
5
5
4
5
4
4
4
BMR
(Sorghum
x Sudan)
Late Above 16°C 32,000 -
36,000
SUPERDAN 2 5 NS 4 5 5 3 5 4 4 4
Sudan x
Sudan
Late Above 16°C 65,000 -
75,000
SPRINT 5 NS 4 4 5 2 5 5 3 5
Sudan x
Sudan
Quick Above 16°C 60,000 -
70,000
SPEEDFEED 2 4 NS 3 3 4 1 4 4 3 5
Sorghum
x Sudan
Quick Above 16°C 30,000 -
35,000
NECTAR
3 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 5 4
Sudan x
Sweet
Sorghum
Late Above 16°C 65,000 -
75,000
NUTRIFEED 4 NS 5 4 4 2
2 3 4 1
Pennisetum
hybrid
Ultra
late
Above 16°C 60,000 -
80,000
CHOPPER Pit silage only 5
Pit silage only
Sorghum
x
Sorghum
Medquick
Above 16°C 28,000 -
35,000
Feed Quality and
Management
Planting Rates (kg/ha)
Ideal
Grazing
Height
(m)
Protein
%
Digestibility
%
Marginal
Dryland
Good
Dryland
Irrigation
or High
Rainfall
1m 12 - 18 56 - 62 3 - 5 5 - 10 15 - 20
1.5m 12 - 18 56 - 64 3 - 5 5 - 10 15 - 20
1m 12 - 18 59 - 65 3 - 5 5 - 10 15 - 20
1m 12 - 18 59 - 65 3 - 5 5 - 10 15 - 20
1m 12 - 18 56 - 62 2 - 4 5 - 8 10 - 20
1m 12 - 18 56 - 62 2 - 4 5 - 8 10 - 20
1m 8 - 16 55 - 60 3 - 5 5 - 10 15 - 20
1m 12 - 18 56 - 64 2 - 4 5 - 8 10 - 20
30cm -
50cm
16 - 22 60 - 68 2 - 5 4 - 8 8 - 15
NS 9 - 11 60 - 68 2.5 - 4 4 - 6 6 - 8
12
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage

Forage
sorghum
agronomy
Early paddock selection and preparation is advisable to take
advantage of and utilise sowing opportunities for forage
sorghums. The final decision on which forage sorghum variety
to plant can be made nearer to sowing time when anticipated
needs can be better identified.
Soils & sowing
Soil selection
Forage sorghum performs best on heavier soils due to
their greater moisture holding capacity and natural fertility.
Although forage sorghum has good drought tolerance and
can be sown on lighter soils, productivity may be reduced
unless adequate fertilising is carried out and good seasonal
conditions prevail.
It is advisable to avoid planting on poorly drained soils or
shallow country. Sowing on these types of soils normally
results in a disappointing performance.
Soil preparation and planting
Forage sorghum is comparatively easy to establish,
although an investment in good seed beds and sowing
techniques will result in superior plant establishment
and higher productivity.
Early preparation followed by a fallow period will allow
better weed control and produce a finer seed bed. Rough
seed beds will usually result in poor establishment.
Prepare the seed bed in a similar manner to winter cereal,
grain sorghum or corn. In preference to broadcasting and
working in, plant with a combine, air seeder, or row crop
planter. The use of press wheels or rollers to provide good
seed/soil contact is also recommended.
It is difficult to exert too much press wheel pressure on
forage sorghum. However, in many cases the greatest
problem has been exerting too little pressure and not
providing the required seed/soil contact - especially when
the seed bed is drier than ideal.
The use of harrows, chain or mesh behind the roller
or press wheels will help to avoid crusting on soils prone
to crusting.
In the absence of a roller or press wheels, consider
using inverted harrows. This will provide some seedbed
compaction, yet leave the coarser material on top. This
technique is recommended only for good seed beds.
Broadcasting and incorporating
This system can provide good results; however it should
only be used when there is no alternative.
a) Prepare a seedbed as you would for
conventional sowings.
b) Work the ground with the aim of covering the seed
with 2-5cm of soil. With this system it is not possible
to get all the seed to the desired 5cm depth.
c) Harrow and roll the ground to provide good
seed/soil contact. This will also reduce the rate of
drying of the surface soil, giving the shallow placed
seed a better chance to establish.
Light rain or a quick irrigation after broadcasting is the best
means of ensuring a good, uniform establishment, but only
on non-crusting soils.
Sowing depth
Depending on the situation, sowing depth can vary from
2-10cm, but for most soils a 5-6cm sowing depth will
provide the best establishment. The key to a successful
strike is to plant as shallow as possible but deep enough to
ensure adequate moisture for germination.
Irrigation
Despite the benefits that irrigation offers, there is still a
need for close attention to seedbed preparation and sowing
technique in order to achieve the best results.
Although the irrigation farmer can control his sowing time
and moisture for crop establishment, these advantages are
worth little without proper preparation.
Sowing time
One of the critical factors which determines how early
to sow is soil temperature. This has a large effect on the
speed of germination and rate of seedling growth.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 13

TABLE 1 Effect of soil temperature on sorghum emergence.
Temperature Effect on germination Effect on seedling emergence
12°C Slow germination providing time for soil borne
pests and diseases to attack
Poor emergence coupled with increased
incidence of soil diseases (Pythium,
Fusarium etc).
15°C Satisfactory germination 50% emergence to be expected. Similar disease
expectations as at 12°C.
16°C Good germination Adequate for good emergence.
18°C Good germination Good, quick emergence.
20°C Ideal None.
Towards the time when sowing is anticipated, check the soil
temperature by placing a thermometer into the cultivated
soil at planting depth at 9am. It is best to do this over a
number of days to determine any apparent trends. Soil
temperatures are publicised in many areas or are available
from local Department of Agriculture offices.
For forage sorghum, soil temperature should be 18°C and
rising to provide a good establishment and vigorous early
growth. Sowing at 16°C can be successful provided soil
temperature is rising.
Table 1 outlines the risks involved by planting at lower
temperatures. It should be noted that low temperature has
a far greater effect on seedling emergence than on actual
seed germination, as shown.
KEY POINT: It is impossible to control rainfall
and therefore growers must evaluate planting
opportunities as they occur. In some seasons planting
opportunities will arise when soil temperatures
are considered too low. A decision to sow may be
made however, after weighing up the risks and feed
situation. Table 1 helps identify some of the risks. If
you intend to plant in cooler conditions you should
consider a higher planting rate to compensate for the
lower seedling emergence.
Row spacing
Forage sorghum will produce similar results on a varied
range of spacing, from 15cm to 1m. For grazing purposes,
it is suitable to use any spacing that is convenient for the
planting machinery. For hay production purposes narrower
row spacings are more popular. In drier regions wider row
spacing can be more beneficial, as the subsoil moisture
between the rows acts as a reserve to be tapped as the
roots develop into it.
There are many and varied options on the best row spacing for forage crops
14
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage

Sowing rates
The most common sowing rates are shown in
Table 2 and Table 3.
TABLE 2
Sowing rates - sorghum x sudan hybrids and sweet sorghum
hybrids (e.g. Sweet Jumbo LPA and Sugargraze). Average
seed count 30,000 seeds/kg.
Situation Sown alone Sown with
(kg/ha) legume companion
crop (kg/ha)
Marginal dryland 3 - 5 2 - 4
Favourable dryland 5 – 10 3 - 6
Irrigation/coastal 15 - 25 10 -15
The lower rates are only for good seed beds, ideal sowing times and
when using planters with effective rollers or press wheels.
TABLE 3
Sowing Rates - sudan grass
(e.g. Superdan 2 and Nectar). Average seed count
80,000 seeds/kg. A good guide is 70% of the sorghum
x sudan sowing rate.
Situation Sown alone Sown with
(kg/ha) legume companion
crop (kg/ha)
Marginal dryland 2 - 4 2
Favourable dryland 5 – 8 2 - 4
Irrigation/coastal 10 - 20 Uncommon
The lower rates are only for good seed beds, ideal sowing times and
when using planters with effective rollers or press wheels.
Weed & pest control
Weed control
In order to achieve maximum productivity, good weed
control in forage crops is now being accepted to be just as
important as weed control in grain crops. Weed infestation
will severely affect crop growth.
A number of herbicides are registered for use on forage
sorghum and will cover most situations. The most common
herbicide used is ‘Atrazine’ ® which can control some
grasses and a wide range of broadleaf weeds.
Current recommendations are available from your
government advisor or local chemical distributor.
Insect pest management
Overall there are few insect pests of great concern
in established forage crops. However, wireworm and
cutworm can be very destructive in the early stages of
germination and establishment.
Wireworm
There are several species of wireworms which can attack
the seed and to a lesser extent the roots. The larvae feed
on the seeds as soon as they are sown, thus destroying the
seed. The symptoms of wireworm damage are bare areas of
various sizes and a general thinning of the crop.
When wireworms are present or anticipated, some means
of control should be considered. Various insecticides can
be used either as a seed dressing or applied with water
injection behind each planting tyne. Press wheels can also
help reduce damage from wireworms.
Cutworm
Cutworms can also be a problem as they chew through the
young seedlings stems at, or slightly below the soil surface.
Control measures include applying a suitable registered
insecticide. Once again, check label recommendations
before purchase.
As chemical registrations vary from state to state,
consult label recommendations before application.
Overcoming some common
establishment problems
Based on field experience, some common problems faced
by growers and the suggested prevention measures have
been listed below.
Problem (a): Patchy poor strike
Symptoms:
Emergence is satisfactory in sections of the paddock,
but poor in others.
Reasons and advice:
Planting too shallow or too deep. Ensure seed is
sown into moisture, this is generally about 5cm,
it is not advisable to go much deeper than this.
Check seed placement.
Check for insect damage to the seed or seedlings.
Note any common factors between the areas of
good and bad establishment. It is essential that
early inspection is done to make identification,
before the insects move into their next life cycle.
Monitoring prior to planting and taking preventative
measures is recommended.
Problem (b): Uniformly poor strike
Symptoms:
Overall poor seedling establishment.
Reasons and advice:
Poor seed/soil contact caused by planting into a rough
or wet seed bed or not using press wheels or roller to
provide adequate seed/soil contact.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 15

Planting too deep, particularly in softer soils where
the planter sinks into the soil when planting. Check
planting depth at regular intervals.
Planting too early into cold soil. Know the risk by
monitoring soil temperatures prior to planting.
Heavy rain or irrigation following planting can
cause crusting and compaction of the soil above
the seed. A light harrowing before emergence may
overcome crusting.
Seed quality. Always retain a representative sample
of seed to check germination if in doubt. This is
very rarely the cause of poor establishment unless
the seed is old or stored in conditions detrimental
to seed quality.
Problem (c): Seedling death/slow development
Symptoms:
Seedlings show very slow growth and/or death.
Reasons and advice:
Insects or diseases attacking the seedling. Early
investigation to isolate the cause is essential.
Planting too early will slow plant growth until
conditions improve and temperatures warm up.
A hard pan or dry layer beneath the seed will
impede proper root development and stunt seedling
growth. Check the moisture in the whole profile
before planting.
Problem (d): Poor growth
Symptoms:
Seedlings are slow growing and/or an abnormal colour.
Reasons and advice:
Poor nutrition, particularly phosphorus and/or nitrogen.
Correcting any soil deficiencies by fertilising and using
a starter nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser to give the
seedling a ‘kick-start’, is highly recommended.
Soil type unsuitable for the crop planted. If the
country has been recently flooded, the soil can be
in an anaerobic condition and there is poor nutrient
availability to the plant.
Fertiliser requirements
As with all crops, it is necessary to have a soil with
well balanced fertility in order to achieve optimum
growth and feed value. High levels of nitrogen, in
particular, will ensure high protein, fast growth and
quick recovery after grazing or cutting. Consequently a
good nitrogen program is necessary, provided moisture
and other nutrients are adequate.
Table 4 Amounts of fertiliser that can be applied at planting with forage sorghum seed
Row spacing (cm)
Nitrogen
kg/ha
Phosphorus
kg/ha
Urea
Maximum product (kg. per ha)
Crop King
700
DAP
Starter NP
MAP
Starter 12
18 24 50 54 74 130 200
35 12 25 27 37 65 100
45 10 20 23 31 54 66
70 7 12 13 18 32 50
90 5 10 11 15 26 40
Notes:
1) The rates given in Table 4 should be reduced by 50% for very sandy soils. The rates may be increased by 30% for heavy textured
soils or where soil moisture conditions at planting are excellent.
2) The rates are for conventional seeding equipment. Minimum or zero till equipment with slit openers tend to increase the fertiliser
concentration and the fertiliser rates in Table 4 should be reduced by 50%.
16
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage

Irrigation/coastal
As a rule of thumb, a fertiliser program similar to that
used for grazing oats or a corn crop is a good guide. Split
applications of the nitrogen fertiliser are recommended so
that the forage production can be tailored to suit seasonal
conditions and feed requirements. Prior to sowing apply
50kg of nitrogen/hectare (110kg of urea) and at sowing
time use a starter fertiliser to supply phosphorus and other
elements if required.
Top dressing of the crop after each cutting or grazing
with an additional 50kg of nitrogen/hectare will maintain
productivity and feed quality.
Inland/dryland
At or before sowing, apply the same fertiliser type and rate
as would be used for an oat or grain sorghum crop.
Top dressings of nitrogen during the season will provide
an increase in feed quality and quantity should seasonal
conditions allow and additional feed be required.
Table 4 (previous page) is a guide to the maximum
amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus that can be applied
with the seed. It also converts these into comparative
amounts of some of the more common fertiliser products.
If possible, it is preferable to place fertiliser to the side and
below the seed.
For more specific recommendations refer to your
local agent or agronomist.
GRAZING
MANAGEMENT
OF FORAGE
SORGHUMS
Many hundreds of thousands of hectares of forage
sorghum have been grazed under a range of seasonal
conditions throughout Australia over many years. There
have been few reports of stock deaths due to prussic acid
poisoning because graziers generally follow the golden rule
of not introducing hungry stock onto young and/or drought
affected forage sorghum.
Introduction
Like most plants, the feed value of forage sorghum is
highest when the plant is young. However due to the
perceived risk of prussic acid poisoning grazing is often
delayed until the plants become tall and considered safe.
The cost to the grazier in these situations is wasted feed
and lower feed value, resulting in significantly reduced
livestock performance.
Therefore, there is a need to understand prussic acid
poisoning to:
a) Maximise livestock production from forage sorghum,
and
b) Avoid potential stock losses.
What is prussic acid
Cyanogenic glucosides are a natural component of the
plant which, when eaten by stock, are converted to
hydrogen cyanide (HCN). In sufficient quantities this can
lead to hydrogen cyanide poisoning or, as it is commonly
referred to, prussic acid poisoning.
When animals consume forage sorghum containing
cyanogenic glucosides, prussic acid is released and may be
absorbed into the blood and carried to body tissue where it
interferes with oxygen utilisation by the cells. Prussic acid
poisoning is not a major problem provided sensible grazing
management is adhered to.
Once stock have settled into a sorghum paddock, a
portion of the forage they consume is high in prussic
acid causing compounds (e.g. young growth, old stressed
plants) but this has no effect because the toxic plants are
only part of the diet and the animal is in a steady, rather
than rapid intake, grazing pattern. However, environmental
conditions can change which can result in a change in the
level of these compounds in the plant, and this can in turn
affect animal production.
Symptoms of prussic acid poisoning
Symptoms include muscle trembling, staggers, deep
and rapid breathing, frothing at the mouth and gasping
respiration. Collapse, coma and death may occur in
extreme cases.
Factors which influence the level of prussic acid
1) Stress (the most important influence)
A plant which is under stress - particularly moisture stress
- will have a higher level of prussic acid causing compounds
than a plant not under stress, especially if the plant is in the
young stage and less the 0.5 to 1m tall.
2) Stage of growth
The level of prussic acid decreases as the plant gets older
and it is generally considered that once a healthy plant
reaches 80cm to a metre tall the level of prussic acid is
below a dangerous stage.
3) Sorghum type (genotype)
The sudan grasses, e.g. Superdan, are considered to be
generally low in prussic acid whereas the sweet sorghum
and grain sorghums are considered to be high.
There is a third group which comprises the majority of
the forage sorghums and these are sorghum x sudan grass
crosses which have a moderate level of prussic acid.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 17

However, within each genotype or group there can
be significant variations which have been identified by
breeders and used in breeding programs. So, depending
on individual parents, there is a difference in prussic acid
levels between varieties.
Irrespective of varietal differences, caution
should always be exercised, as even the varieties
traditionally low in prussic acid can reach dangerous
levels under severe stress.
4) Nutrient balance
High nitrogen levels in a plant can increase the prussic acid
content, as can low soil phosphorus levels.
Recommended grazing management
1) Height
The plant should be healthy and preferably 80cm to 1m tall.
2) Stock condition
Starving stock should not be introduced to forage sorghum,
particularly if the forage sorghum is young or showing any
signs of stress.
3) Sulphur
Sulphur blocks are always highly recommended when
grazing forage sorghums. When stock only have forage
sorghum in their diet, they will become sulphur deficient,
as forage sorghum is always low in sulphur. Therefore
the significant effects of prussic acid in forage sorghum
are not the infrequent fatal poisoning of animals, but the
less obvious consequences. These include a depression in
voluntary feed intake, sulphur deficiency and a decrease in
growth rates.
The sulphur deficiency is increased when the forage has a
high prussic acid level. This is because sulphur is used in a
detoxification reaction within the animal which converts
prussic acid to the nontoxic thiocyanate. Animals have this
ability to break down the prussic acid as long as they have
enough sulphur.
Sulphur deficiency causes a reduction in appetite which
in turn leads to a decline in average daily weight gains or
milk production.
As well as intake declining, there may be certain amino
acids which become limiting factors to production. When
this occurs, tissue synthesis and the ability to increase live
weight in the animal decreases.
4) Salt
All forage sorghum varieties are low in salt and animals fed
salt licks will show better performance.
Conserving forage sorghum high in prussic acid
1) Hay
Making hay from this material will decrease the prussic
acid content to some extent, however as the moisture
The broadleaf of Sugargraze indicates a high yield and high production
is reduced stock can consume the remaining dry matter
(therefore prussic acid) more quickly, which increases the
poisoning potential.
Standing forage that has a high prussic acid potential will
also have a high prussic acid potential as hay.
2) Silage
It is widely reported that the silage process results in
a decrease in the prussic acid content. Also, no cases
of prussic acid poisoning from sorghum silage have
been recorded.
What to do with a stressed crop
When a crop is less than 1m tall and stressed, particularly
drought stressed, there are two options:
a) The preferred option is to wait for rain to freshen up the
crop to reduce the prussic acid, as it really is considered
too risky to graze.
b) If the farmer is in a position where feed is extremely
short and he wants to utilise the available sorghum, the
following precautions should be taken:
1. Give the stock a good feed of hay or straw etc so
when they are introduced onto the sorghum paddock
they are full and will commence grazing in a slow manner.
When an animal consumes a large quantity of toxic
forage rapidly, its body cannot neutralise the prussic acid
at the rate of intake and poisoning occurs.
2. Introduce sulphur blocks to cattle well before they go
into the sorghum paddock so they have sulphur in their
system and have become familiar with their use.
18
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage

3. Closely monitor the stock and if there is any indication
of any toxic reaction occurring within the cattle, remove
them immediately.
4. Be ready to drench affected stock. Affected stock can be
treated by drenching with a ‘hypo’ (photographic sodium
thiosulphate) solution at the following dose:
Animal Metric imperial
Cattle 56 grams of hypo 2ozs of hypo in
in 500mls of water 1 pint of water
Sheep 14 grams of hypo 0.5oz of hypo in
in 500mls of water 1 pint of water
Grazing management for
Superdan 2, Nectar, Pacific
BMR and Sweet Jumbo LPA
These hybrids belong to the sorghum x sudan and sudan
grass groups.
The ideal grazing height for this group is 1m which
provides safe, high quality feed (in terms of protein and
energy) as well as allowing for proper plant development.
As forage gets taller, quality declines, although available
bulk increases.
To achieve the best quality feed, rotational or strip
grazing methods should be used. With intensive forage
crops electric fencing is useful, provided wires are visible
to stock. By grazing the forage at an early stage and then
allowing regrowth, the best quality feed is obtained. For
best regrowth, remove stock before the crop is grazed
below 15cm.
Traditional quick flowering hybrids need to be intensively
managed to prevent the crop going to head. Once the
crop does go to head, feed quality will decline and a lot
of feed will be trampled and wasted. If this does occur,
slashing the uneaten stalks (to 20cm height) will promote
better regrowth. This problem does not occur to the same
extent with Sweet Jumbo LPA or Superdan 2 which have
been developed to be later flowering.
However, even with the late flowering hybrids, it is not
recommended that grazing be unnecessarily delayed. In
other words, late flowering does not mean late
grazing. For maximum stock productivity the aim
should still be to commence grazing when the crop is
approximately 1m tall. The main benefit of growing late
flowering forage is that if grazing is delayed until several
weeks after the optimum time, the crop will not have
flowered and there will be better utilisation of feed.
Swiss Brown cows at a trough of forage silage.
Therefore, under less intensive management systems where
large areas are sown, or where greater flexibility is required
Sweet Jumbo LPA, Superdan 2 or Nectar should be the
preferred choices.
Grazing management for
Sugargraze
This variety belongs to the sweet sorghum hybrid group.
The characteristics and application of Sugargraze vary
significantly from the sudan and sorghum x sudan hybrids.
If early grazing is required, Sugargraze can be grazed once
it reaches 1.5m in height. It can also be left to grow and
grazed later if feed is not needed until further in the season.
For best regrowth do not allow stock to graze the crop
lower than 15cm. It should also be remembered that sweet
sorghums do not regrow as quickly after grazing as the
sorghum x sudan hybrids.
The real benefit of Sugargraze is its versatility, as it can
provide useful feed at many stages of growth, from young
growth right through to the post flowering stage and even
after frost. As such, it can provide a ‘standing haystack’
for late autumn - early winter feed with the sweet stems
ensuring minimal wastage. Although not as sweet as
Sugargraze, Nectar can also provide this standover feed
into autumn - early winter.
All of the information in this document is subject to copyright. No part of this document may in any form or by any means (whether electronic,
mechanical, or otherwise) be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or provided to any other person without the prior written
permission of Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd, who owns the copyright. The information provided in this brochure is intended as a guide only. Various factors,
including planting times and environmental conditions may alter the characteristics of plants.
Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage 19

This is the second edition of the highly sought after Forage Book, first published in 1990. It has been updated, revised and includes
a volume of information on forage management, including choosing the right forage hybrid, forage for beef, sheep and milk
production and fodder conservation, silage or hay. Written by Pacific Seeds’ Forage Breeder, Peter Stuart, this book combines
the author’s 22 years of extensive experience in the forage breeding industry with up-to-date
hints on how to successfully produce a forage crop for a wide variety of end uses.
At only $36 (including GST, postage and handling) The Forage Book represents great
value for livestock producers, silage growers and forage specialists.
Presented in a hard gloss covered, full colour format this is the ideal reference book for
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For application to specific conditions, seek further advice from a local professional.
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Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd.
Pacific Seeds Head Office Phone: 07 4690 2666 Website: www.pacificseeds.com.au
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Pacific Seeds Yearbook 2010/2011 - Summer Forage