Evaluation of Byproducts of Some Minor Millets for Chemical Composition, Mineral Profile and In Vitro Gas Production Kinetics

An in vitro evaluation of byproducts of selected minor millets by gas production technique followed by an in vivo evaluation of browntop millet (Brachiaria ramosa) byproduct-based CFM by twelve-week feeding and metabolism trial in sheep was conducted. In vitro study revealed that ME(MJ/kg) and IVOMD (%) of browntop (6.81 and 53.95) and little millet (6.81 and 53.09) byproduct were similar; whereas, lower values were found in foxtail (5.04 and 41.70), kodo millet (5.00 and 40.26), proso millet (5.23 and 43.47) and poor in barnyard (2.90 and 30.79). In vitro gas production kinetics of Millet-byproducts study revealed that readily soluble fraction ‘a’ value was not detectable while, insoluble but fermentable fraction “b” was significantly (P<0.01) highest (34.87) in Browntop millet and lowest (7.98) in Barnyard millet. Among various minor millet milling byproducts, Browntop and Little millet by products found to be better whereas barnyard is poor in ME and IVDOM.