National Dairy Research Institute, Bangalore - 560 030, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Fingermillet fodder (local variety) was harvested at 75 of sowing between 50% flowering and dough stage an fed to 5 crossbred (Holstein Fresian X jersey Tharparkar) bullocks (5 years, 551 kg.). Average DM and CP contents were 21.6. and 9.4% in the rodder. DMI/100 kg body weight was 1.62 kg/d. The digestibility coefficients or UM, OM, CP and CF were 67.4, 69.1, 59.1, and 70.9%, respec ve y. The higher OMD was mainly associated with higher digestible NDF (43 %). The DCP and TDN values were 5.5 and 61.6 kg/100 kg UM On this basis it appears to be a potential forage crop for feeding to livestock.
