Johnsongrass and sorghum
Sorghum halepense, Sorghum spp.
- Plant type
- grass
- Settings
- Disturbed ground
- Risk
- High risk Our rating from the cited sources.
- Review
- Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.
Photos
Planned.
How to tell it
Tall coarse grass with a white midrib on each leaf, large open seed heads and thick spreading roots (Merck).
Look-alikes: Planned.
What to do on a site walk
- Avoid unit after frost or drought.
- Keep goats off short regrowth.
Why it matters
- Toxic principle
- Cyanogenic glycoside (dhurrin); nitrate
- Toxic parts
- Leaves and stems, especially young regrowth
- Basis for our rating
- Chewgrass rating. Langston: can cause sudden death in goats after drought or frost. Cornell lists goats.
Signs in goats
Gasping, trembling, staggering, bright red blood, death within minutes (Langston).
If you think an animal has been poisoned, call your vet right away.
Season
Danger after drought, frost or wilting and on young regrowth; plants over about 2 ft tall are generally safer (Langston).
Sources
Links last checked: 2026-10-31