title: Nutritive characteristics of pearl millet grain in beef cattle diets.
abstract: Two trials were conducted to compare pearl millet grain with corn and grain sorghum in cattle diets. Grain portions of diets in metabolism and feedlot experiments contained 73% corn and 6% soybean meal (C); 76.2% grain sorghum and 2.8% soybean meal (GS); and 79% pearl millet (PM). In the metabolism trial (replicated 3 x 3 latin squares; six steers), apparent digestibilities of DM and OM were higher (P less than .05) for C than for GS or PM diets. Ether extract and CP digestibilities were higher (P less than .05) for C and PM than GS. Dietary TDN was higher (P less than .05) for C compared with GS or PM diets. Fecal N was higher (P less than .05) for GS than for C or PM, urinary N was higher (P less than .05) for PM than C or GS, but retained N was similar (P greater than .05) for C, GS and PM diets. In a 90-d feedlot trial (18 individually fed heifers), a trend was observed for higher (P less than .20) ADG on C compared with PM; however, feed/gain was similar for C, GS and PM diets (8.2, 9.1 and 8.5 kg feed/kg gain, respectively). Ruminal fluid acetate:propionate ratios were lower (P less than .05) at 3.5 and 7 h postfeeding for PM compared with C or GS diets on d 83. Pearl millet grain may be used as a feed grain for beef cattle, but diets should be formulated to efficiently utilize the high quantity of protein (about 14% of DM) in this grain as a substitute for supplemental protein.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Anim. Sci., University of Georgia, Tifton 31793-0748.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hanna
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013025:Glycine max; D003313:Zea mays