The nutritive value of fresh, ensiled and sun dried pearlmillet ( pennisetum typhoides )‎ fed to goats

الملخص EN

This study aimed to investigate nutritive value of millet fodder (Pennisetum typhoid's) in the form of fresh, silage and hay by goats.

The experiment lasted for 75 days.

Forty five days for preparation of pearl millet silage or hay followed by 30 days as a digestibility trial.

A digestibility trial was carried out on 9 mature Ballade bucks in three groups (3 animals / each).

The animals in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd group were fed ad lib.

Millet green (MG), millet silage (MS) and millet hay (MH), respectively as basal diets.

All animals were given barley grains as feed supplement to cover 25% of their energy maintenance requirements.

The biological (ensiling) and physical (sun drying) treatments of millet fodder slightly increased its content from ash, sodium (Na) and potassium (K).

In contrast, its crude fiber content was decreased by either ensiling or sun drying process.

Feed intake from MS insignificantly 8.8% higher than its fresh form (MG) whereas, feed consumption from millet hay significantly lower than the MG.

Crude protein intake (CPI) followed the same pattern of feed intake.

Goats fed MS consumed the greatest amount of crude protein (1.67 g / kg BW) while those fed MH consumed the lowest one (1.11 g / kg BW).

In general, all nutrients digestibility coefficients and nutritive value (TDN % and DCP %) of millet fodder were also improved by ensiling process.

While sun drying of millet caused depression in all nutrients digestibility.

The TDN intakes from the total tested diets were enough to satisfy the maintenance requirements of mature goats whereas; DCP intakes were inadequate to cover the maintenance requirements recommended for goats fed MG, MS or MH as basal diets.

Drinking water significantly differed among animal groups.

Nitrogen balance was positive for goats fed MG and MS and in favor of MS, whereas it was negative for goats fed MH.

Sodium balance was positive and recorded variable amounts for goats fed both MS and MH diets, whereas goats fed MG diet showed negative balance.

Potassium balance was also positive for goats fed the three tested diets.

This study concluded that although the pearl millet fodder may be successfully used as a good quality fodder in the form of fresh silage or hay.

Protein source, supplementation will be required for intensive practical feeding of animals