Project snapshot: The impact of climate on sorghum utilisation in poultry diets

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This project examines how climate stress and feed innovation affect grain quality and broiler chicken performance in Australia. It reviews how elevated carbon dioxide, heat and drought change the yield and nutrient profile of feed grains, including wheat, barley, maize and sorghum.

The research shows that C3 grains, such as wheat and barley, may respond to higher carbon dioxide with more starch production, but often at the cost of lower protein and mineral levels. In contrast, C4 grains, including maize and sorghum, gain less benefit from carbon dioxide enrichment and remain vulnerable to heat and drought.

The project overview also presents feeding studies that tested higher-protein sorghum genetics, seasonal grain variation, grain density and feed additives in broiler diets. Results show that high-protein sorghums reduced soybean meal use by more than 20% without harming feed efficiency, while commercial sorghums delivered better growth and breast meat yield. Further trials found that sorghum variety and density influenced feed conversion, body weight and energy use.

Liberty sorghum performed best overall. For red sorghum diets, sodium metabisulfite improved body weight and starter feed conversion ratio, while protease showed promise. These findings offer practical strategies to strengthen poultry feed performance under climate and grain quality conditions.

Read the full report here.