Pearl Millet and Grain Sorghum Yield Response to Water Supply in Nebraska

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a drought-tolerant crop that may serve as an alternative summer crop in Nebraska. Field experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 near Sidney and Mead, NE, to determine the water use efficiency (WUE) and yield response to water supply at critical developmental stages of pearl millet and found grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Four water regimes were used: (i) no irrigation, (ii) single irrigation at boot stage, (iii) single irrigation at mid–grain fill, and (iv) multiple irrigations. Pearl millet grain yields were 60 to 80% that of grain sorghum. Average grain yields at Mead were 5.1 Mg ha-1 for pearl millet and 6.1 Mg ha -1 for grain sorghum. At Sidney, average pearl millet yields were 1.9 and 3.9 Mg ha-1 in 2000 and 2001, respectively, and average grain sorghum yields were 4.1 and 5.0 Mg ha-1in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Both crops used a similar amount of water (336 and 330 mm in 2000 and 370 and 374 mm in 2001 for pearl millet and grain sorghum, respectively) and responded to irrigation with a linear increase in grain yield as water use increased. Grain sorghum had greater WUE than pearl millet (12.4–13.4 kg vs. 5.1–10.4 kg grain ha-1 mm-1). Pearl millet, with lower and less stable yields, does not currently have the potential to be a substitute crop for grain sorghum in Nebraska

Effects of pearl millet silage ammoniation with urea on carcass and meat quality of lambs

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea on lamb carcass characteristics and meat quality. Thirty-two noncastrated crossbred lambs at 4?5 months of age, with an average initial body weight of 17.39 ± 2.16 kg, were distributed into four treatments in a randomized block experimental design with eight animals per treatment. Experimental diets were composed of pearl millet silage ammoniated with four levels of urea (0%, 2%, 4% and 6%, on dry matter basis (DM). Carcass conformation and fatness decreased linearly (p 0.05) on cooking losses or shear force. The levels of oleic and erucic fatty acid levels in the meat decreased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas linoleic and eicosadien-oic acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA:SFA ratio and &#969;6 contents increased (p < 0.05). Pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea allows for the production of good-quality lamb meat, with greater concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, lambs fed diets with pearl millet ammoniated with up to 6% lead to a reduction of carcass characteristics without significantly affecting loin-eye area possibly associated with low palatability of the additive used. The lower acceptance of the silages with higher levels of urea is due to the ammonia retention in the material is attributed to the ammonization process. Thus, in spite of the benefits on lamb meat quality, it is suggested that the use of this additive in the ammonization of tropical forages be carried out with care, in limits of up to 6%