Nutrient digestibility and growth performance of pigs fed pearl millet as a replacement for corn

Three experiments were conducted to determine the value of pearl millet grain, grown at either Purdue University or the University of Nebraska, as a substitute for corn in the diets of young pigs. In Exp. 1, 24 crossbred barrows, average initial weight of 20.7 kg, were used to evaluate nutrient digestibility of both sources of pearl millet compared with corn. Nitrogen digestibility was similar (P > .05) for corn and both sources of pearl millet. Energy and DM digestibilities were highest (P < .01) for corn, resulting in corn having a higher (P < .01) DE and ME value. Two 28-d feeding studies were conducted to evaluate the growth response of pigs when 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% of corn was replaced with pearl millet (Exp. 2, Nebraska millet; Exp. 3, Purdue millet) and an equal-weight basis in nursery (Exp. 2) and growing (Exp. 3) diets. Experiments were designed as 2 x 5 factorials of sex and dietary treatment. In Exp. 2, 60, 10-kg crossbred pigs (barrows:gilts, 1:1) were used. During the 14-d period after weaning, and over the entire 28-d experimental period, no effect (P > .05) of dietary treatment on growth rate or feed intake was observed. However, from d 14 to 28, a quadratic response (P < .05) in growth rate and feed intake were observed from incremental substitution of pearl millet for corn. In Exp. 3, 50 crossbred pigs (barrows:gilts, 1:1) with an average initial weight of 24.3 kg were used. Rate of BW gain, feed intake, and gain:feed ratio were not affected (P > .05) by dietary treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)