Should I Graze Cows or Pigs on this Sorghum Sudangrass Cover Crop? 

Thank you. It has been years since we have done soil samples. I probably should do a soil sample form the new fields before we do cover cropping, but frankly, I would not follow their recommendations. SO I have not. Sorghum Sudangrass does not crimp well from what I understand. It clearly works better when it is grazed or mown. My tests have echoed what the literature says about it. I am grazing our breed pigs on it at a different part of the farm. However, cows are the masters are grazing it. They will graze it hard and then it regrows so much better. I plan to do a video on it when I graze it. Sorghum Sudan grass is a beast of a cover crop.

@@DowdleFamilyFarms This is my first season playing with sorghum. I just allowed the goats to partially strip down a little spot a few days ago to see what happens. Fortunately weve had great rain this season. I wouldnt follow a sample recommendation either, heck i dont even grow what i fill out the form claiming im gonna grow but they make you put something.. next time im gonna write "goats" instead of tomato just to mess with them! I recently found out the microbial importance of minerals in ratios, like calcium to magnesium.. and i believe it was ken hamilton who said you only need to increase the one deficient mineral to make the whole system start biologically functioning again. Adding something its high in makes matters worse so youve got to know where youre at. I looked again at old samples and had low sulfur, extremely low sodium and extremely high calcium. Such that my ca/mg ratio is way out of wack. sent in 2 new samples and had them select every single possible test again, a whopping $15 per sample. The co-op says im the only person that has ever requested this in their history of operation. Im eager to see what the pigs on woodchips sample shows. Now that you mention i think i have heard sorghum is a pain to crimp, like vetch and rye. I have a friend on a commercial vegetable farm that swears by discing sorgum in for soil improvement.

That might be the case, but I’d be surprised if it is because the grasses (weeds) in this cover crop field were deeply rooted species. But there is no way of knowing for sure. Sorghum Sudan has really strong root exudates that help it grow fast and vigorously.

Thanks, I will do another video when I graze it.

Not yet, but I may be helping a neighbor with some of that this fall. We will see. What are you looking for specifically? Inter seeding and growing cover crop during the off season for hay or replacing the hayfield with cover crops during the main hay season?

Thanks for letting me know. I reviewed it and it sounds like it may be a bit lower than our normal volume.

Thanks, me too.

We have Heinz 57 cows! They are a mix of genetics. Mostly angus with some char Lois a little Brahma in the bulls.

This is a Berkshire boar. He is long, wide, and tall. He is very gentle as well