University of Nevada, Reno Researcher Develops Potential Game-Changing Sorghum Varieties for Dairy Feed and Gluten-Free Foods
February 6, 2025
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have unveiled 200 sorghum varieties that could be a game-changer in the food, brewery, dairy feed and biofuel industry. Preliminary research underscores their exceptional drought tolerance, with some varieties also exhibiting record levels of protein and digestible starch.
The breeding program for the sorghum varieties was established in 2017 at the University’s Experiment Station, a unit of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, to develop water-efficient crops suited for the semi-arid Western U.S. The varieties the team has developed may now also present farmers in other regions across the globe with an alternative lower-water-use feed for dairy crops.
"Many dairy feeds and specialty grain crops in the U.S. are facing lower or variable yields due to late frosts, floods, heat and drought associated with climate change, highlighting the need for more resilient alternatives that can thrive under changing climatic conditions,” said Melinda Yerka, the project’s lead researcher and associate professor in the College’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences. “Our immediate goal is to collaborate with food scientists and dairy farmers to improve grain yield and farm management practices, which will be important for long-term supply chains.”
In late 2023, Yerka founded Yerka Seeds to complete the development and commercialize the sorghum varieties. With guidance from the University’s Small Business Development Center, Yerka is refining growth strategies, obtaining financing, and addressing intellectual property needs.
Recognizing the potential of the Yerka Seeds, a commercial seed production company and several university programs seeking less water-intensive dairy feed have developed pilot studies to assess the varieties’ viability as alternative dairy feeds. The results are promising.
“The field trials confirmed that the seeds perform best on 20 to 25 inches of water per year compared to the 30 to 40 inches that most corn and alfalfa varieties require,” Yerka said.
Yerka is now advancing research to identify the optimal combinations of soil type, climate, fertilizer and water that maximize the seed’s potential. She is also conducting economic analyses of life-cycle costs associated with switching from corn or alfalfa to large-seeded sorghums.
Source: University of Nevada, Reno
