The first cut should be taken before the heads are visible. At this stage feed quality is high and the crop is easy to handle. The second cut will be ready for harvesting by the middle of September. A 1-cut silage system will greatly improve yields, but at the expense of feed quality. Feed quality drops dramatically after sorghums head out.
Sudan grass is often the sorghum preferred for pasturing.
It has pencil-size stems, and is palatable even after it heads out. Grazing should be delayed until the crop reaches 45 cm. Under rotational grazing the crop will remain productive and succulent throughout the season. Sudan grass can tolerate slightly wetter soils than the other sorghums but does best on medium to well-drained soils. Young or immature plants, plants suffering from drought or plants which have been frosted contain a higher level of prussic acid.