Sorghum

Sorghum, sometimes called milo, is a cereal used as a carbohydrate source in some dog and cat foods, supplying starch, fibre and a modest amount of plant protein. It is naturally gluten-free, which makes it an alternative for recipes seeking to avoid [wheat](/glossary/wheat) while staying cereal-based rather than legume-based, and its starch has a digestion profile often described as somewhat slower, which can interest formulas aiming at gradual energy release without a disease-management claim (NRC, 2006). Like any cereal, sorghum supplies little essential amino acid compared with an animal protein, so its role is mainly energetic and functional, and cooking is needed to make its starch absorbable. A reassuring point for cautious buyers: sorghum is not involved in the FDA investigation into [dilated cardiomyopathy](/glossary/dcm-dilated-cardiomyopathy-grain-free-debate), which mainly concerned legumes, so it offers a cereal carbohydrate option for recipes wishing to stay out of the [grain-free](/glossary/grain-free) segment (FDA CVM, Dec 2022 update). On a label, sorghum signals a gluten-free cereal serving as a starch carrier (FEDIAF). The marker: sorghum is a gluten-free cereal carbohydrate, an alternative to wheat, to be judged as an energy source rather than a protein one. Compare it with [barley](/glossary/barley) and [oats](/glossary/oats) in the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

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