A study of regional feed grain demand and allocation across Australia for the five years 2003-04 to 2007-08 has found that the successful introduction of "waxy" sorghum could lead to industry cost savings of $23 million a year.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) economists Ahmed Hafi and Peter Connell carried out the study with funding from graingrowers and the Federal Government through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

They found that, if waxy sorghum was available in sufficient quantities, it was likely to replace standard sorghum in feed formulated for cattle feedlots because of its higher metabolisable energy value for ruminants.

There were also claims that waxy sorghum could reduce problems of crumbling and slower throughput being experienced with non-waxy sorghum in the production of pelletised stock feeds.

The ABARE study also found likely flow-on benefits to Australia¹s east coast poultry industry because of the reduction in competition for standard sorghum.

Copies of "Feed Grains: Future Supply and Demand in Australia " are available from the GRDC's website http://grdc.com.au/bookshop/free.htm