Bastos et al., 2005. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 34 (2): 520-528

Two digestibility trials were carried out to study the nutritive value of 4 types of pearl millet (BN2, Comum, Iapar and Iapar-Repasse) ground through 3-, 2- and 1-mm screens. The digestibility coefficient (DC) of gross energy (GEDC) and gross energy metabolization coefficient (GEMC) relative to 3-mm screen were 63.09 and 61.20% (Comum), 71.57 and 69.66% (Iapar) and 67.39 and 65.60% (BN2), respectively. The GEDC and GEMC of COMUM were lower than that of IAPAR, and both were similar to BN2. The IAPAR-REPASSE had a similar GEDC (70.62%) and GEMC (68.49%) to Iapar. The Iapar-1 mm (84.61 and 81.41%) had higher GEDC and GEMC than Iapar-3 mm (70.59 e 68.71%) and Iapar-2 mm (77.73 e 75.46%). The values of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) for the Iapar (3 mm) were 3030 and 3001 kcal/kg, respectively. The IAPAR (2 and 1 mm) showed DE values of 3083 and 3355 kcal/kg and ME values of 2993 and 3228 kcal/kg. The Iapar-Repasse had DE and ME values of 2849 and 2763 kcal/kg, respectively. The COMUM (3 and 2 mm) had DE and ME values of 2574 and 3022 kcal/kg and 2497 and 2932 kcal/kg, respectively. The BN2 (3 and 2 mm) had DE and ME values of 2692 and 3047 kcal/kg and 2620 and 2966 kcal/kg, respectively. The different pearl millets showed variations in chemical composition. The differences resulted on variations in the nutritive values. The Iapar pearl millet showed the best values, followed by BN2 and Comum.