Pearl millet is known as a forage capable of producing high contents of crude protein. Corn, forage sorghum and grain sorghums continue to provide a good alternative for planting an annual crop for silage production. However, the lower production costs of pearl millet and farm program considerations may prove it to be an alternative for silage production. Hay Pearl millet can provide excellent hay when properly cured. It is easier to cure than sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids and sudangrass.
Pearl millet is more difficult to cure than the foxtail millets.
A conditioner or crimper is recommended for proper curing. Research trials were conducted at the Carrington and Minot Research Extension Centers comparing pearl millet to other annual forage crops to evaluate hay production potential. Forage production was similar among all forage crops during the drought years 1988 and 1989. Pearl millet had a TDN value higher than foxtail millets and proso millet but lower than sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass. Only Siberian millet outproduced Hy-Pro pearl millet during the drought of 1989.