One of the strongest messages I took from a recent Kansas State University study supported by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program is that nutrition and feed manufacturing do not have to compete with one another.
Sometimes they can move in the same direction.
Modern U.S. grain sorghum supported excellent broiler performance across a wide range of particle sizes. At the same time, coarser grinding offered several potential manufacturing advantages.
Lower grinding energy.
Greater hammermill throughput.
Reduced equipment wear.
Improved ingredient flowability.
Those are practical benefits that feed mill managers understand immediately.
What makes the findings particularly interesting is that these manufacturing advantages were achieved while maintaining excellent animal performance.
Too often, feed manufacturing discussions are framed as a trade-off. Better processing is assumed to require higher costs. Lower costs are assumed to require performance compromises.
This study suggests the relationship may not always be so simple.
During VIV Europe, several nutritionists commented that future feed formulation decisions will increasingly require collaboration between nutritionists and feed manufacturers. I agree.
The best solutions are often those that improve total system efficiency.
For me, that is one of the most important lessons from this United Sorghum Checkoff Program-supported research. Successful feed production is not only about bird performance. It is also about producing feed efficiently, consistently, and economically.
Modern U.S. grain sorghum appears capable of contributing to both objectives.
Report:
https://www.sorghumcheckoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/3010-Final-Report-1_05012026.pdf