CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF PEARL-MILLET (PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM) FED TO GROWING PIGS

Pearl millet grown at two different locations in the U.S.A., pearl mil let A (PMA) and pearl millet B (PMB), were analyzed for chemical compo sition and nutrient content and compared to corn. The two samples of p earl millet and corn were incorporated into diets and fed to 24 growin g pigs in a metabolism trial to determine nitrogen and mineral balance and digestibilities of energy, fat and amino acids. Pearl millet (PMA and PMB) was found to be richer in crude protein, gross energy, ether extract, acid detergent fiber, amino acid profile and mineral content than corn. However, digestibilities of dry matter (corn, 86.8%; PMA, 80.5%; PMB, 82.0%) and energy (corn, 85.3%; PMA, 78.8%; PMB, 80.5%) we re higher (P<0.05) for corn than either of the pearl millet samples. F at digestibility was much higher in pearl millet than corn. Although n itrogen intake and absorption were higher (P<0.05) for pearl millet, t he digestibility of nitrogen was similar for pearl millet and corn. Ne t protein utilization was lower (P<0.05) in pearl millet when compared to corn (corn, 44.8%; PMA, 34.6%; PMB, 39.9%). Digestibilities of the essential amino acids, arginine, threonine, valine, isoleucine and ly sine were higher in pearl millet than corn. Phosphorus retention, expr essed as a percentage of intake and absorption, was higher in corn tha n pearl millet. Calcium intake and absorption were similar for pearl m illet and corn. Intake and absorption of magnesium and manganese were also similar in pearl millet and corn. Zinc and copper retention, when expressed as a percentage of intake, were higher in corn, but absorpt ion for both minerals was similar in corn and pearl millet. Pearl mill et was found to supersede corn in nutrient content and amino acid dige stibility. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited