EVALUATION OF YELLOW SEED COLOR GRAIN-SORGHUM AS A FEED GRAIN FOR SWINE

The feeding value of yellow seed color grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) was compared to more common bronze seed color grain sorgh um or corn (Zea mays L.) when these grains were used as the primary en ergy feedstuff in diets for young, growing swine. Five different trial s were conducted involving a total of 486 young, growing pigs (8-28 kg ). Each trial involved direct comparisons of nutritionally adequate di ets containing yellow (Dekalb DK42Y) or bronze (mixture of common hybr ids) grains sorghum or corn. Grain sorghum crops of both types grown i n five years (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992) at the same location were tested. Results of the feeding trials indicated no nutritional advanta ge for swine of the yellow- over bronze-seeded grain sorghum hybrids. Pigs fed the grain sorghum diets had growth rates similar to those fed the corn-based diets but, overall, required slightly more (P<.05) fee d per unit of weight gain. The yellow and bronze grain sorghums utiliz ed had average estimated feeding (energy) values of 96 and 95%, respec tively, of that of corn.