Pearl Millet

[RBT]

I have a chance to buy some pearl millet from a neighbor. I am going to feed it to cow/calf pairs. The fellow wants $60 a ton for it. I have never fed millet before and don't know much about it. Anyone on here have any experience with it or know how much it's worth? All replies are appreciated! RBT

 

[PureCountry]

Assuming you're buying it in bale form, get a feed test first.

 

[Justin]

millet hay?

 

[strawking]

Just make sure you test for nitrates before feeding. 60 doesn't sound to bad since the hay market is moving up. Our cows love it as long as it had a good thick stand, the thicker the stems are the less they like it.

 

[salt grass flats]

I have fed hay millet (white wonder variety) for several years with good results. I would have the nitrates tested for safety sake. Also protein might have a tendency to be a little low also.
Cow love it, they will leave good alfalfa for it, so process a bale orf it and turn around and process the alfalfa on top of it.
right now my calves get a mixture of 1first cutting, one second cutting and one hay millet as it goes thru a tub grinder, along with 3.5 lbs ground proso millet (grain) until the middle of Jan and go to 4.5 lbs.
Last two yrs have averaged 2.5 lbs gain

 

[Doug Thorson]

If it was lush and green and put up right I will take millett over second cutiing alfalfa every day.

 

[Clarencen]

Pearl millet grows taller, and has thicker stems then hay millet. It is more like sudan grass. I have fed a little of it, but don't remember how well the cows liked it. I believe it is a better feed then Sudan grass though.

 

[RBT]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Yes it is millet hay put up in big round bales. It was tested for nitrates (132) and moisture which was 15%. I really appreciate getting responses from people who have actually had experience feeding millet. Thank you one and all. Take care. RBT

 

[katrina]

It's awesome feed.... But dont feed it before you preg check.. :wink: :shock:

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Pearl is similar to Haygrazer with wider leaves and shorter. It wouldn't be as good as regular golden german millet hay IMO. It is also a pain to swath. It is hard cutting stuff compared to hay millet or sudan.