Short communication: Performance of lactating dairy cows fed pearl millet grain

Fifteen multiparous Holstein cows were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square experiment to determine the effects of feeding pearl millet grain on feed intake, milk yield, and milk composition of lactating dairy cows. Three isonitrogenous diets with a 57:43 forage:concentrate ratio were formulated. Diets contained 30% corn, 30% pearl millet, or 31% corn and pearl millet mixed 1:1 (wt/wt). Three lactating Holstein cows fitted with ruminal cannulas were used to determine the effects of dietary treatments on ruminal fermentation parameters. Dry matter intake and energy-corrected milk were similar for all dietary treatments and averaged 23.8 and 33.5 kg/d, respectively. Dry matter intake (% of BW) was unaffected by dietary treatments and averaged 3.40%. Milk fat, protein, lactose, and total solids concentrations were not influenced by grain type. Ruminal NH(3)-N concentration was unaffected by dietary treatments. However, ruminal pH tended to be lower for cows fed pearl millet than those fed corn and pearl millet mix. It was concluded that pearl millet grain can replace corn in dairy cow diets up to 30% of the diet DM with no adverse effects on milk yield or milk composition.