Setaria sphacelata

Golden timothy, golden millet, Rhodesian grass

Stout, usually tufted perennial with stems up to 1.8 m high. A variable species, of which numerous subspecies and varieties have been described. Adapted to areas with over 600 mm of rain annually. Withstands drought and waterlogging. Prefers moist fertile soils. Grazed or cut only during the rainy season as it is unproductive in dry periods. One of the first grasses to produce fresh growth at the onset of the rains.

The Nandi variety is superior to most for higher rainfall areas at high altitudes.

The Kazungula variety is very tall and leafy with thick stems and broad bluish-green leaves. It is used for grazing and for cutting, giving high yields. For grazing it should never be higher than 20-30 cm. The herbage is rich in oxalic acid.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, 4 weeks, Ghana						19.5	19.4	22.9	13.0			437
Fresh, 8 weeks, Ghana						18.3	15.4	25.4	9.6			"
Fresh, 12 weeks, Ghana						22.8	13.3	27.0	14.0			"
Fresh, 20 weeks, Ghana						41.9	6.5	31.1	8.8			"
Fresh, 24 weeks, Ghana						67.5	6.1	32.2	7.4			"
Fresh, mature, Trinidad						15.0	6.4	32.4	8.2	2.9	50.1	82
Fresh, regrowth, 18 days,
Congo							18.4	24.0	13.1	4.7	39.8	428
Fresh, mature, Trinidad						20.7	7.0	34.4	8.0	2.4	48.2	82
Fresh, 20 cm, South Africa						12.9	16.9	27.8	15.3	4.6	35.4	489
Fresh, 30 cm, South Africa						14.0	15.3	28.0	15.6	4.9	36.2	"
Fresh, 45 cm, South Africa						13.9	16.7	29.2	12.9	4.9	36.3	"
Fresh, 60 cm, Tanzania							15.3	35.2	14.6	2.9	32.0	487
Fresh, mid-bloom, 120 cm,
Tanzania							8.7	42.0	10.4	2.8	36.1	"
Fresh, stem-cured, 180 cm,
Tanzania							4.1	36.3	7.8	1.3	50.5	"
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Fresh, mature					Sheep		44.1	76.8	42.8	71.3	2.41	82
Fresh, regrowth					Sheep		71.8	71.3	52.2	75.7	2.47	428
Kazungula, mature					Sheep		51.5	65.1	49.5	67.9	2.24	82
Kazungula, 20 cm					Sheep		77.3	74.1	64.4	74.6	2.49	489
Kazungula, 30 cm					Sheep		75.9	72.0	66.7	73.5	2.44	"
Kazungula, 45 cm					Sheep		77.4	74.2	70.2	74.3	2.58	"