N. A. Kovtunova1, V. V. Kovtunov1, 2
1 Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”, Zernograd, Rostov region, Russia
2 Don State Technical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Volume 25 No. 11
Date of paper submission: 25.11.2024, date of review: 22.09.2025, date of acceptance: 24.09.2025.
Published: 11/30/2025
Abstract. Sorghum is a universal feed crop that is used to feed poultry, pigs, sheep, cattle, fish, etc. in the form of mixed feed, green fodder, silage, hay, haylage, grain haylage. The scientific novelty lies in the evaluation of new promising varieties and hybrids of various types of sorghum in terms of yield and quality, which will allow recommendations to be made on the use of this crop in feeding cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the nutritional value of feed obtained from highly productive, promising sorghum varieties and hybrids for feeding various animal species. Methodology. The objects of the study were 27 varieties and hybrids of grain, sweet, and grass sorghum developed by the “ARC “Donskoy”. The study was conducted using generally accepted methods in 2021–2023. The hydrothermal coefficient was 0.82 in 2021, 0.52 in 2022, and 0.81 in 2021. Results. According to productivity there have been identified such varieties and hybrids as ‘Esaul’ (5.4 t/ha), ‘Sotnik’ (5.4 t/ha), ‘Sotnik 2’ (5.5 t/ha) (grain sorghum), ‘Feniks’ (45 t/ha), ‘APV-1115 × Yuzhnoe’ (51.7 t/ha), ‘APV-1115 × SK-20/334’ (50.0 t/ha) (sweet sorghum), ‘Kudesnitsa’ (46.7 t/ha), ‘Gordey’ (65.7 %) (grass sorghum). According to protein percentage, the maximum values were identified in grain of the grain sorghum varieties ‘Zernogradskoe 53’ (11.95 %) and ‘Zernogradskoe 88’ (11.52 %), and in green mass of the Sudan grass variety ‘Selchanka’ (9.55 %). The green mass of the sweet sorghum hybrids ‘APV-1115 × Yuzhnoe’ (123.9 and 119.1 g), ‘APV-1115 × SK-20/334’ (117.0 and 112.4 g) and the variety ‘Feniks’ (125.1 and 120.02 g) meets the standard of provision of a feed unit with digestible protein when feeding cattle and sheep.
Keywords: sorghum, productivity, green mass, grain, protein, fiber, feed unit, exchangeable energy
For citation: Kovtunova N. A., Kovtunov V. V. Estimation of grain crops’ nutritional value for feeding various animal species. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2025; 25 (11): 1748‒1761. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2025-25-11-1748-1761 (In Russ.)
Download the full text of the article
