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Influence of the Dwarf Characteristic on Composition and Feeding Value of Near-Isogenic Pearl Millets¹

Animal Science Department, Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton

W. G. Monson and G. W. Burton

Crops Research Division, USDA, Tifton, Georgia

ABSTRACT

Well fertilized near-isogenic dwarf and tall millet inbreds (Tift 23DB and Tift 23B), field chopped at the boot stage and dehydrated 74 days after planting, were each fed individually to appetite to eight Jersey heifers (213 kg mean wt) following adjustment and standardization periods of seven days each. An indicator digestibility (chromic oxide) trial was included. At harvest, tall millet was 213 cm high and produced 7.2 metric tons of dried forage per hectare compared to a height of 107 cm and 5.6 metric tons for dwarf millet; however, dwarf millet had 50% more leaves which contained 15% more protein and 17% less lignin than tall millet leaves. Protein, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract of dehydrated dwarf millet averaged 13.6, 30.3, and 42.0%, respectively; these values for tall millet were 11.4, 36.0, and 40.1%. Apparent coefficients of digestibility for dwarf millet of 59.7, 64.4, and 59.2 for dry matter, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract were higher (P < .05) than those for tall millet by 6.8, 8.8, and 12.9%, respectively. The biological significance of the dwarf characteristic carried through into animal performance. Covariance adjusted daily consumption of dwarf millet (6.29 kg/animal) was 21% greater (P < .01) than that of tall millet. Animals fed dwarf millet gained 0.52 kg/day which was 49% more (P < .05) than those fed tall millet. It was concluded that the simple recessive dwarf characteristic could be used effectively for improving the nutritive value of forage millets, particularly if they were to be fed at the boot stage.

¹ University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Coastal Plain Station, Tifton, Journal Series Paper No. 229.

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