Wow, fantastic insight Don On Thu, Apr 24, 2025 at 8:36 AM Don Osborn <don@milletsalliance.org> wrote:
On the topic of pearl millet for animal forage here is a video conversation from last year on hybrid pearl millet for forage that gets deep into specifics. * "Hybrid Pearl Millet... What are you missing? Chris Leach and Jeff Jackson," 29 Mar 2024 (short version, 23:42) https://youtu.be/x8H-WTDrTQI * "Pearl Millet Full Version...making #COWCHOW" (long version, 1:21:42) https://youtu.be/tZeghVwD0Bw The phrase "ruminant rocket fuel" came up in the discussion, reflecting the nutritional profile of pearl millet as livestock forage. The parameters mentioned are high crude protein and NDSB levels (the latter apparently has to do with digestibility), in addition to the crop being able to succeed in diverse climates (when soil and air temperatures are high enough).
One of the two participants in this video, Chris Leach (whose bio or affiliation I've not been able to find) suggests, beginning at the 02:44 mark in the shorter video (9:50, long version), that decline of levels in the Oglala aquifer may lead to more use of pearl millet in dairy operations in the western US. He further suggests a pearl millet system could be a "game changer" in the next 5 years.
The other participant and evidently the host, Jay Jackson (affiliated with Croplan, a seed company owned by Land-O-Lakes, Inc.), has a high profile on YouTube, including this earlier short video on pearl millet for forage. Some readers may prefer to start with this short description before getting into either of the longer versions. "Ruminant rocket fuel: Pearl Millets might be the next answer?" 27 March 2020 (04:52) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRojP1mgWGQ
Is pearl millet poised to become more important as a forage crop in North America?
Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance
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