A comparative assessment of yield and nutritive value of warm season annual forages for West Texas

Authors: CRUZ, ALONDRA - Texas Tech University; BANGARI, MAYANK - Texas Tech University; AVILES, DIEGO - Texas Tech University; IMPA, S.M. - Texas Tech University; OSTMEYER, TROY - Texas Tech University; RITCHIE, GLEN - Texas Tech University; Hayes, Chad; NORRIS, AARON - Texas Tech University; JAGADISH, KRISHNA - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Grass and Forage Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2025
Publication Date: 10/6/2025
Citation: Cruz, A., Bangari, M., Aviles, D., Impa, S., Ostmeyer, T., Ritchie, G., Hayes, C.M., Norris, A., Jagadish, K. 2025. A comparative assessment of yield and nutritive value of warm season annual forages for West Texas. Grass and Forage Science. 30:749-761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-025-00900-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-025-00900-0

Interpretive Summary: This study investigates the potential of sorghum and pearl millet as sustainable forage alternatives in conditions of limited water and nutrients, crucial for livestock and food production. These crops are noted for their resilience to drought compared to traditional forages, yet adoption is hindered by issues like hydrogen cyanide and nitrate toxicity. The research evaluates various hybrids of sorghum, pearl millet, and maize for their productivity, fiber content, and digestibility under both field and greenhouse conditions. A total of 26 hybrids were tested in the field across seven growth stages, from 30 days post-emergence to the soft-dough stage, while the greenhouse study included additional prussic acid-free sorghum and maize hybrids. Findings revealed significant variations in dry matter, fiber content, and digestibility between growth stages and among hybrids. Notably, four forage sorghum hybrids and one pearl millet hybrid either outperformed or matched the performance of forage maize. This suggests that these sorghum and pearl millet hybrids could serve as viable forage alternatives in semi-arid regions, offering substantial biomass and nutritional quality. The study highlights the promise of these crops in providing sustainable and resilient forage options to livestock producers.

Technical Abstract: There is an increasing need to explore better forage alternatives that can thrive with limited water and nutrient supplies to maintain livestock and food production. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) are recognized for their ability to produce substantial biomass under drought stress and limited nutrient conditions, compared to traditionally used forages. However, obstacles such as hydrocyanic acid potential and nitrate toxicity have impeded their broad adoption by livestock producers. The current study aimed to assess the productivity, fiber content and digestibility of various sorghum, pearl millet, and maize (Zea mays L.) forage hybrids under field and greenhouse conditions. Under field condition a total of 26 hybrids, including forage sorghum, brown midrib sorghum x sudangrass and pearl millet hybrids were tested for biomass production and nutritional quality parameters under seven different growth stages starting at 30 days post emergence to soft-dough stage. In addition to above mentioned forage classes the greenhouse study included prussic acid-free sorghum and maize forage hybrids that were tested under three different growth stages. Total dry mater, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, in-vitro dry matter digestibility and in-vitro true dry matter digestibility varied significantly (p <0.05) between different growth stages and among hybrids. Soft-dough stage emerged as the ideal growth stage to obtain maximum yield and nutritional benefits. The study identified four forage sorghum hybrids and a pearl millet hybrid that performed better or on par with forage maize, suggesting them as viable forage alternatives to maize in semi-arid regions.