Millet

[Silver]

Went and looked at a friend's millet crop yesterday. Very interesting. 45 days since planting, and a drought year. Should be time for another cut.

 

[Katpau]

Have you fed millet hay to cows? Do you know what variety your friend is growing? My hay supplier is looking to grow some millet next year, and he has asked if we would like to try it. We would be feeding bred cows in winter. I know nothing about Millet. What do you think?

 

[Silver]

Have you fed millet hay to cows? Do you know what variety your friend is growing? My hay supplier is looking to grow some millet next year, and he has asked if we would like to try it. We would be feeding bred cows in winter. I know nothing about Millet. What do you think?

I think he's growing pearl millet. He's getting it tested so should have an idea of feed value soon. His crop got rained on when well after it was cut so he ended up wrapping it. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. One crop he did a mix of millet and Italian ryegrass which looked good too. Next time I talk to him I'll confirm the variety.
I understand it normally has good protein and palatability. Feed tests hopefully confirm.

 

[SmokinM]

That should be some great feed. It makes better baleage than dry hay IMO but can be made dry with the right weather. Keep an eye on the nitrates if it was fertilized much depending on drought stress. Frost shouldn't be a worry in hay like that either. Even if it gets bit. Grazing it that would be something to watch up there.

 

[Silver]

Have you fed millet hay to cows? Do you know what variety your friend is growing? My hay supplier is looking to grow some millet next year, and he has asked if we would like to try it. We would be feeding bred cows in winter. I know nothing about Millet. What do you think?

So it turns out it's Red Proso Millet. He just cut a field of Crown Pearl Millet that was planted at the same time that was even more impressive.

 

[Katpau]

Thanks. My grower is aware of the nitrate issue and indicated he would not be putting any fertilizer on it. He is using it as a rotation and was looking for something that would grow fast in a field with no irrigation. He mentioned having an issue getting the seed he wanted, and was pretty excited to try it, now that he found some. He tells me it is a hybrid Pearl Millet.