Protein and energy value of pearl millet grain for mature goats

We conducted two studies to assess the protein and energy value of pearl millet grain (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) for mature goats. In Exp. 1, 15 2-yr-old male castrated goats were gradually introduced over a 4-mo period to three all-grain diets consisting of 100% corn (Zea mays L.), 50:50 corn:pearl millet, and 100% pearl millet. After the adjustment to all-grain feeds, the goats were fed the diets in metabolism crates for 2-d adjustment and 7-d total collection periods. For Exp. 2, complete diets containing the three grain treatments (corn, 50:50 corn:pearl millet, and pearl millet) as 40% of the total DM as fed (the remainder was mainly alfalfa meal and mineral supplement) were balanced to contain 16% crude protein (CP) and 2.24 Mcal digestible energy (DE)/kg on an air-dry basis. Twelve mature (4- to 6-yr-old) buck goats were randomly assigned to diets and fed in pens for 14 d and then moved to metabolism crates for 10-d adjustment and 10-d total collection periods. In Exp. 1, DM intake was unaffected by dietary treatment, but digestibility of DM and organic matter was lowest (P < .10) in goats fed 100% pearl millet. Digestibility of complete diets also decreased (P < .10) as corn was replaced by 50 or 100% pearl millet, but DM intake increased (P < .10) on the 100% millet diet. In both experiments, substituting pearl millet for corn had no effect on nitrogen retained by the goats. Metabolizable energy of pearl millet was only 92% that of corn, but ME intake was similar when the grains were fed as 40% of the dietary DM. Pearl millet has potential as a major energy feed for goats in areas where it can be economically produced.