Inclusion of Sorghum in Ruminant Diets Towards Methane Emission Mitigation and Improved Meat Quality: A Review

Abstract

Sorghum is among the less widely used crops yet it is ranked the fifth most important cereal crop after wheat, maize, rice and barley. The grain’s nutritional value is similar to that of maize and wheat and the phenolic profile is more abundant and varied than other common cereal grains. Sorghum has been largely included in ruminant diets as an energy source and research findings show insignificant differences in the performance parameters in livestock fed sorghum-based diets, with some studies suggesting sorghum as a more efficient alternative to maize. The narrative review focuses on opportunities for reducing rumen methanogenesis through dietary inclusion of sorghum as well as discussing the impact on relative abundance of microbiota and meat quality. The grain possesses qualities that can potentially influence the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in ruminant livestock production, relative abundance of rumen microbes and meat quality. However, there is very little information on the influence of sorghum grain-based diets on the rumen bacterial community composition and their relationship with ruminal metabolites. Further investigations are required to add more knowledge on the effect of sorghum grain-based diets on meat quality.