Abstract
Grain sorghum harvested from shattercane (SC)-infested fields may contain 10 to 30% SC seeds on a weight basis. Shattercane, yellow corn, low-tannin sorghum (LTS), and high-tannin (HTS) sorghum were evaluated chemically and in a feeding trial with broilers. Tannin content of SC, HTS, and LTS expressed as percentage catecbin equivalents on a dry matter basis were 4.5, 5.5, and .09%, respectively. Shattercane had a higher crude protein than yellow corn, LTS, and HTS but an amino acid profile similar to that of corn and the sorghums. Feeding SC and HTS to broilers resulted in a reduction in weight gain (P<.001) and feed conversion (P<.01) compared with results obtained by feeding yellow corn and LTS. Broilers fed yellow corn and LTS showed no difference in weight gain (P>.7) and feed conversion (P>.29). Due to the lower feeding value of SC, possibly caused by its high tannin content, it would be advisable to avoid the use of sorghum heavily infested with SC in diets for starting chicks.
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