Pennisetum americanum

Bulrush millet, cattail millet, pearl millet, Indian millet, horse millet, bajra

Tall erect annual, very variable, with stems up to 3 m high. Grows in drier areas on sandy soils and matures with no more than 300 mm of rainfall. Cultivated extensively for grain and also for hay. Utilizes nutrients deep below the surface. Grows rapidly and matures quickly when the rains come. For an unknown reason, a depression in the butterfat test is sometimes noted when cows are grazed on a pearl millet pasture. Cutting or grazing can begin 4-6 weeks after sowing. For hay, a single cutting just before flowering is common practice, but five cuttings can be taken.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, 40 cm, South Africa						15.3	17.7	21.1	13.4	3.2	44.6	489
Fresh, 45 cm, South Africa						18.7	16.4	22.3	13.0	3.0	45.3	"
Fresh, 50 cm, South Africa						17.0	13.9	25.5	13.0	3.3	44.3	"
Fresh, 65 cm, South Africa						18.6	11.4	26.4	11.9	2.8	47.5	"
Fresh, 90 cm, South Africa						16.1	9.6	28.4	12.7	1.7	47.6	"
Fresh, 100 cm, South Africa						18.3	6.6	29.9	11.7	1.4	50.4	"
Fresh, 135 cm, South Africa						19.0	6.2	31.8	10.1	1.4	50.4	"
Fresh, 150 cm, early bloom,
Tanzania						15.0	13.7	27.5	14.9	1.7	42.2	175
Fresh, mid-bloom, India							11.4	26.3	12.6	2.4	47.3	378
Fresh, milk stage, India							10.6	28.0	9.2	2.1	50.1	436
Fresh, dough stage, India							8.8	24.9	8.2	1.9	56.2	"
Hay, South Africa							6.6	41.2	10.0	1.3	40.9	489
Straw, India						94.5	3.8	37.3	5.9	1.5	51.5	436
Straw, Tanzania							4.3	43.6	9.3	0.9	41.9	175
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Fresh, 40 cm					Sheep		72.3	68.0	55.9	78.9	2.48	489
Fresh, 45 cm					Sheep		70.8	74.5	58.9	78.2	2.52	"
Fresh, 50 cm					Sheep		67.9	73.5	62.7	77.1	2.48	"
Fresh, 65 cm					Sheep		68.0	70.3	61.1	77.4	2.47	"
Fresh, 90 cm					Sheep		64.1	74.5	45.8	76.4	2.41	"
Fresh, 100 cm					Sheep		51.5	75.4	23.7	73.1	2.32	"
Fresh, 135 cm					Sheep		51.6	70.1	36.1	74.9	2.35	"
Fresh, 150 cm					Sheep		66.4	73.8	47.1	70.9	2.27	175
Hay					Sheep		32.9	66.5	45.8	57.3	1.97	489
Straw					Oxen		12.9	57.2	45.3	42.7	1.68	175