Shirohie Millet

We recommend Shirohie Millet, which can be sown once soil temperatures reach 14°C and rising. That is earlier than forage sorghum, so you get high quality feed sooner, with first grazing about 5–6 weeks after emergence. Total season yield is lower than forage sorghum, so many growers use millet to fill the early gap.

Shirohie Millet is a safe option. Temperate millets carry no hydrocyanic acid (HCN, or prussic acid) poisoning risk, unlike forage sorghums. It suits direct grazing by sheep and cattle and can also be cut for hay or silage. Graze at 20–30cm high for the best feed quality, although it can be grazed up to 50cm.

We suggest Shirohie Millet. It can be sown on lighter soils than forage sorghum and tolerates low salinity. It still needs good nutrition. We suggest a starter fertiliser of about N30, P8 and K30 plus trace elements per hectare for a 2.5 t/ha crop. It is not frost tolerant, so sow it in spring or summer.

We recommend sowing Shirohie Millet at 10–15 kg/ha. Sow 3–4cm deep once soil temperatures are 14°C and rising, with adequate soil moisture, and lightly roll afterwards for good seed-to-soil contact. A starter fertiliser of about N30, P8 and K30 plus trace elements per hectare supports establishment.

We recommend Shirohie Millet for areas with 300mm+ annual rainfall, sown into adequate soil moisture with the possibility of follow-up rain. It suits sandy to heavy soils with a pH of 5.0 (CaCl2) or above, responds well to fertiliser and is adapted to fertile loams and heavy cracking clays.

All millets, including our Shirohie Millet, tend to run to head under stress or in hot, dry weather, and feed quality then drops. Grazing management helps. Graze first at 5–6 weeks, then every 3–4 weeks depending on growth, and keep plants at 20–30cm. Apply fertiliser after each grazing to keep plants leafy.

Wait until plants are well anchored and 20–30cm tall, which is usually 5–6 weeks after emergence. After that, Shirohie Millet can be regrazed every 3–4 weeks, depending on growth. Rotational or strip grazing gives plants time to recover, and topping up fertiliser after each grazing helps sustain regrowth through late summer.

Yes. Shirohie Millet is suitable for hay and silage as well as direct grazing, and it gives good regrowth for multiple cuttings. It is a robust, multi-stemmed, leafy annual grass that grows 150–300cm tall. Cut before it runs to head to hold feed quality, and support regrowth with fertiliser.

No, we don't recommend Shirohie Millet for a waterlogged flat or where late frost is likely, as it is not tolerant of waterlogging or frost. Sow it on better-drained ground once frost risk has passed and soil temperatures are 14°C and rising. It is adapted to fertile loams and heavy cracking clays and responds well to fertiliser.

It depends on timing and yield goals. Shirohie Millet can go in earlier, at 14°C soil temperature compared with 16°C for Bounty Forage Sorghum, can be grazed from about 6 weeks and has no prussic acid risk. Bounty gives higher total dry matter over the season, has low prussic acid potential and tolerates repeated heavy grazing.