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Posted by GoatWorld on November 19, 2001 at 05:13:40:
NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF PEARL MILLET FOR LACTATING AND GROWING GOATS
Author(s):
GELAYE S
TERRILL T
AMOAH E A
MILLER S
GATES ROGER N
HANNA WAYNE W
Interpretive Summary:
Development of grain hybrid pearl millet, adapted to the southeastern U.S., has created a potential new livestock feed grain. Pearl millet grain has been evaluated with chickens, cattle, swine and fish, but not goats. Two experiments were conducted, the first with lactating does, the second with growing kids. High concentrate rations containing 0, 50 or 100% pearl millet grain were fed in both experiments. Feed intake and milk production and milk composition of does was not influenced by dietary pearl millet grain level. Replacement by pearl millet grain for half corn in a lactation ration for goats can be used successfully. In contrast, substitution of corn by pearl millet grain in a ration for growing kids reduced feed intake and daily gain. If pearl millet grain is fed to growing kids, it should comprise less than one-half of the concentrate portion of the ration. Further research is needed to explain the somewhat negative response of growing goat kids to pearl millet grain.
Keywords:
forage pasture warm season grasses bermudagrass bahiagrass digestion ivdmd grazing cattle forage quality
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