This study investigated the effects of variety of sorghum on nutritional levels of malted grains. Unscreened grains of
BSH1, Mahube, Phofu and Segaolane were malted and analysed for crude protein, minerals, fiber, organic matter and
in-vitro digestibility. Malts from red coloured sorghum varieties (Mahube and BSH1) had significantly higher (P<0.01)
crude protein, iron, copper and zinc. This could mean malting liberated more protein, iron, copper and zinc from
protein-mineral phytates and oxalates in the red coloured sorghum grains than the white coloured grains. On average,
malts from white grain sorghum varieties (Segaolane and Phofu) had higher neutral detergent fiber (52.0%) than those
from red coloured varieties (42.3%). While malts from red coloured grains had higher percentage of acid detergent
fiber (5.6 %) than those white grains (4.5 %), they (red coloured grains) were found to be more digestible than those
from white coloured grains. It may be concluded that since red coloured sorghum grains are disliked by people for
their bitter taste, they may be malted and be used for animal feed and spare the white coloured sorghum grains for
human food. Using malted sorghum grains as a substitute to maize grains in animal feeds is likely to reduce the fast
rising price of chicken and pig feeds.