Silage maize has historically played a dominant role in the forage systems of livestock farms in Vendee and Charente Maritime. However, many farmers were looking for a complementary source of forage to counterbalance the maize's starch content without overly diluting its energetic value. Additionally, the climate is growing less predictable and summer water shortages are on the rise, two factors that are impacting silage maize quality and yield. Livestock farmers have been wanting a crop that requires less water and that can cope with high temperatures. To address these issues, we tested sorghum use on several farms. From the beginning, all the farmers observed the same results. Compared to maize, sorghum is more resistant to high temperatures and water shortages. It also adds concrete value to rations because of its energy value, which comes from sugars and highly digestible cellulose. Brown midrib (BMR) single-cut forage sorghum has allowed farms to increase the fat content of their products and improve herd health (e.g., better cell counts, reduced lameness), largely because the ration has a more reliable nutritional value. That said, sorghum is a complicated plant to grow because of its low establishment speed, sensitivity to weed infestation, and risk of contracting eyespot at the end of the cycle. In early trials, it was difficult to master the growth regime, which led to a number of failures. However, farmers persevered because they were aware of the benefits of including sorghum in their animals' rations. At present, although sorghum remains more difficult to grow than maize, farmers have a much better understanding and greater mastery of the necessary regime.
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