How is sorghum used for food, animal feed, and brooms?

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a versatile cereal grain utilized in various ways depending on the specific variety and its intended purpose.12

Human Consumption

For food, grain sorghums are typically ground into a meal or flour, which is then used to prepare porridge, flatbreads, and cakes. Because the grain is gluten-free, it serves as a staple food in many regions, particularly in Africa and India. Additionally, the grain can be consumed as a whole kernel, used to produce edible oil, starch, and sugar (dextrose), or utilized in the brewing of alcoholic beverages like beer.13

Animal Feed

Sorghum is widely used as livestock feed, serving as a source of grain, forage, and silage. While it is considered to have a lower feed quality than corn, it is highly valued for its nutritional content, including carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Varieties such as grass sorghums and sweet sorghums (sorgos) are specifically grown for hay, fodder, and forage.341

Brooms and Brushes

Broomcorn is a specific, upright variety of sorghum cultivated for its stiff, long-branched panicles. Once harvested and dried, these bristles are processed and bound together to create broom heads and brushes, and they are also used for decorative purposes like wreaths.12