Development of NIRS equations for sorghum feed quality

Analysing grain for feed quality by traditional methods involves elaborate and costly feeding trials. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an inexpensive alternative that has been used for many years to estimate quality in grains. Over the last ten years, a research investment by GRDC through the Premium Grains for Livestock Project (PGLP) has undertaken to develop NIRS equations using multiple grain types, with calibrations for a broad range of energy and feed attributes for different animals. A specific project funded through the Pork CRC, has been undertaken to continue to improve equations for pig feed quality traits. The energy equations were based on 179 grain samples which included wheat, barley, sorghum, triticale, rice and millet. It has been proposed a separate equation for each grain type would produce a more robust prediction. An equation was developed that separated the 46 sorghum samples from the Pork CRC equation. This paper compares the equation based on all the multiple grain types to an equation based on sorghum alone. A robust sorghum feed quality equation would be able to be used by breeders to screen new varieties. It would also be able to be used by feed manufacturers to more accurately assess the quality of ingredients.