Sorghum Hay

Sorghum hay is made from forage sorghum plants that are cut and baled at the right growth stage to produce a bulk, high-energy hay suited primarily to beef cattle in northern and inland Australia.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a warm-season annual grass that thrives in hot conditions with summer rainfall, which makes it well suited to Queensland, northern NSW, and parts of the Northern Territory. It grows tall and fast, producing large volumes of bulk feed per hectare, which is why it is popular in regions where summer forage production is important for carrying cattle through the wet season and into the dry.

It is a different product to the main cereal hays like oaten and wheaten hay, and it plays a different role in Australian livestock feeding. Understanding what it is and what it is best suited for helps you decide whether it fits your situation.

Browse hay and fodder listings on LocalAg to see what is currently available. If you cannot find sorghum hay listed near you, post a free Wanted Ad and our team will find a verified supplier.

Yes. Sorghum hay is a practical and widely used feed for beef cattle across Queensland and northern NSW, where it is one of the main bulk forages available during and after summer.

For beef cattle on maintenance or growing rations, sorghum hay provides reasonable energy and high fibre. It suits dry cows, backgrounding cattle, and growing steers in the northern beef industry well. The main advantage is yield, sorghum produces significantly more bulk per hectare than winter cereal crops, which means it can be produced at a lower cost per tonne in the right environment.

For cattle with higher protein requirements such as weaners, cows in late pregnancy, or animals being prepared for joining, sorghum hay alone will not provide enough protein. At those stages it benefits from being paired with a higher-protein supplement or legume feed.

For dairy cattle, sorghum hay can be used as a roughage component but it is not commonly the first choice given the availability of higher-quality forages in dairy regions.

As with any hay, the nutritional value of sorghum hay varies considerably between loads depending on cutting stage, season, and management. Always buy off a feed test result for large volumes rather than relying on species name alone.

This is an important distinction if you are buying sorghum-based products.

Forage sorghum is a variety of sorghum specifically bred for bulk biomass production rather than grain yield. It grows tall, produces large amounts of leafy stem material, and is cut and baled while still green and vegetative for use as hay or silage. When people refer to sorghum hay in the livestock feed context, they are almost always talking about forage sorghum hay.

Grain sorghum is grown to produce a grain crop, similar to how wheat or barley are grown. The grain is harvested and used as a stock feed or for processing. Grain sorghum stubble can be grazed after harvest but is not typically baled into hay. When grain sorghum does appear as a baled product it is lower in nutritional value than forage sorghum hay because most of the energy has gone into the grain.

If you are buying sorghum hay for bulk livestock feeding, confirm with the seller that it is forage sorghum. Listings on LocalAg should specify this. If it is not clear from the listing, ask before purchasing. You can also browse grain sorghum listings separately if you are looking for grain rather than hay.

This is an area where caution is warranted. Sorghum hay is generally not recommended as a primary hay for horses and should be avoided where possible.

The main concern is cystitis syndrome, also called sorghum cystitis ataxia, which has been documented in horses grazing sorghum and sudangrass pastures. The condition involves urinary tract inflammation and in severe cases neurological symptoms. While the risk from well-cured dry hay is lower than from fresh sorghum pasture, it has not been fully eliminated and the consequences can be serious.

The second concern is prussic acid (HCN), which is covered in more detail in the question below. Again, the risk is reduced in properly cured dry hay but the margin for error is narrow enough that most equine nutritionists advise against feeding sorghum hay to horses.

For horses, oaten hay, wheaten hay, and lucerne hay are safer and more appropriate options. If you are managing a metabolic horse that needs low NSC hay, teff hay is the recommended choice.

Prussic acid, also known as hydrocyanic acid (HCN), is a naturally occurring toxin produced by sorghum plants as a defence mechanism when the plant is stressed. The plant contains compounds called cyanogenic glycosides that convert to prussic acid when the plant tissue is damaged or when it is consumed and digested by livestock.

When is the risk highest? The prussic acid risk is primarily associated with:

1. Young, fast-growing sorghum plants
2. Regrowth after cutting or grazing
3. Plants stressed by frost, drought, or damage
4. Immature plants cut before they reach adequate height

In well-made hay, the risk is significantly reduced. The curing and drying process breaks down cyanogenic glycosides and allows HCN to volatilise and dissipate from the hay. Properly cured dry sorghum hay that has been baled and stored correctly poses a much lower prussic acid risk than fresh or frosted sorghum pasture.

The key word is properly cured. Hay that was cut too early, baled too green, or has not been stored and dried correctly retains more risk. This is one reason why buying sorghum hay with a feed test result and from a verified seller matters more than it might for a lower-risk hay type.

Sheep and cattle are more tolerant of prussic acid than horses and small ruminants handle it better than larger livestock, but no animal is immune at sufficient exposure levels. Always introduce sorghum hay gradually and monitor livestock, particularly if they are hungry when first offered the hay.

Independent testing through our Testing service can provide additional assurance if you are buying sorghum hay in volume for the first time.

Sorghum hay can be fed to sheep with appropriate care, though it requires more attention than feeding standard cereal or legume hays.

The prussic acid risk described above applies to sheep as well as cattle, though sheep are generally more tolerant than horses. The risk from well-cured dry sorghum hay is low, but it increases if the hay was baled immature or has not dried properly. Introduce sorghum hay gradually rather than offering it freely to hungry sheep, and monitor for any signs of distress.

For dry ewes and wethers on maintenance, sorghum hay provides bulk feed and reasonable energy, and can be a practical option in northern regions where the main cereal hays are less available or more expensive to freight in.

For ewes pre-lambing or lactating, sorghum hay alone will not meet protein requirements. Mixing in a legume hay or protein supplement is important at those production stages regardless of what base hay you are using.

For weaner lambs, sorghum hay is not the ideal choice given the combination of lower protein and the management required around prussic acid risk. A safer and more nutritious option for young sheep is available in most regions.

Sorghum hay is a moderate energy, low to moderate protein, high bulk forage. Typical values on a dry matter basis:

1. Crude Protein (CP): 6 to 10%, depending on variety, cutting stage, and seasonal conditions. Earlier cuts from actively growing forage sorghum tend to have better protein.
2. Metabolisable Energy (ME): 8 to 9.5 MJ/kg DM, broadly comparable to cereal hays though the quality range is wide.
3. Fibre (NDF): typically high, which is part of why it suits cattle well as a bulk roughage feed.
4. Moisture: should be below 14 to 15% in properly cured hay. Sorghum cut too green and baled at high moisture is a storage and prussic acid risk.

Sorghum hay sits in a similar protein range to the main cereal hays but with more variability depending on management. It falls well short of legume hays like lucerne and vetch on protein content.

The nutritional value of sorghum hay varies more between loads than most other hay types because of the influence of cutting stage and variety. A feed test result matters more here than for cereal hays where the range is more predictable.

Sorghum is a warm-season summer annual crop, which means its growing and harvest season is the opposite of the winter cereal hays.

In Queensland and northern NSW, sorghum is typically planted from October to December when soil temperatures are warm enough to support germination. Forage sorghum intended for hay is cut from around January to April, depending on planting date, rainfall, and growth rate.

This means new-season sorghum hay is generally available from late summer through autumn, with the bulk of supply coming onto the market from February to May. Unlike winter cereal hays, sorghum hay production is tied to summer rainfall patterns, and availability in any given year is heavily influenced by how the wet season has performed across Queensland and northern NSW.

In dry years, sorghum hay supply can tighten significantly and prices can lift. In strong seasons, supply is generally adequate for regional demand.

Because sorghum hay is produced in the north and summer, buyers in southern states who need it will typically need to factor in interstate freight. If you are planning ahead for your feeding program, locking in supply early in the season makes sense. Browse current listings or post a Wanted Ad to let sellers know your requirements and timeline.

Sorghum hay production is concentrated in the northern and inland regions of Australia where hot summers and summer rainfall support the crop.

Queensland is by far the largest producer. The Darling Downs, central Queensland, and the Burnett and Wide Bay regions all produce significant volumes of forage sorghum hay. The combination of summer rainfall, warm temperatures, and large cattle operations creates strong local demand and supply.

Northern NSW is the second main producing region, particularly around the Liverpool Plains, Namoi Valley, and northwest slopes where summer cropping conditions are suitable.

Northern Territory produces some forage sorghum for local livestock use but volumes are small compared to QLD and NSW.

Southern states produce very little sorghum hay. The crop does not suit the cooler winter rainfall zones of Victoria, South Australia, and WA where winter cereal hays dominate.

This regional concentration means buyers outside Queensland and northern NSW will generally need to source sorghum hay interstate and factor in freight accordingly.

Sorghum hay and rhodes grass hay are both warm-season forages used primarily for beef cattle in northern Australia, but they are quite different products.

Rhodes grass hay is a perennial grass that is cut from established pastures, often multiple times per season. It produces a lighter, leafier hay than sorghum and is generally more consistent in quality between cuts. It is widely used across QLD and northern NSW and is one of the most commonly listed tropical hay types on LocalAg. Browse rhodes grass hay listings here.

Sorghum hay is an annual crop grown specifically for bulk forage. It produces much higher yields per hectare than rhodes grass and is typically cheaper per tonne as a result. The tradeoff is that it is coarser, lower in protein relative to its bulk, and requires more careful management around prussic acid and baling conditions.

Protein: Rhodes grass hay typically sits between 8 and 14% CP, which is generally higher than sorghum hay at 6 to 10%.

Bulk and cost: Sorghum hay has the advantage for operations that need to feed large volumes at low cost per tonne.

Palatability: Rhodes grass hay is generally more palatable and consistent. Cattle eat it readily and it suits a wider range of livestock including sheep.

Practical choice: For most northern beef cattle operations, both have a role. Rhodes grass hay tends to suit situations where quality matters more than volume and cost. Sorghum hay suits situations where bulk feed is the priority and the operation has the management knowledge to handle it safely.

Browse the hay and fodder listings on LocalAg and use the location filter to find sellers in QLD and northern NSW within a practical freight distance. Every listing shows bale type, quantity, ex-farm price, and an indicative delivered price so you can compare options before making contact. All sellers are verified and transactions are protected through CheckVault escrow.

If you cannot find sorghum hay listed in your area right now, post a free Wanted Ad on LocalAg. Describe what you need including quantity, bale type, and any requirements around feed test results or prussic acid management. Our team and seller network will come back to you with options. During seasons where local supply is tight we regularly connect northern buyers with producers who have stock available but are not actively listing.