Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) as corn (Zea mays) substitute in "tambaqui" (Colossoma macropomum) feeds

Abstract

Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) is an annual summer forage that grows in India and some African countries, used for human and animal feeding. It has a high nutritive value and is employed for grain production or forage. Because of its physiologic characteristics, pearl millet is adapted to the soil and climate conditions of Brazilian Cerrado regions. The present research was carried out at the "Setor de Piscicultura da Universidade Federal de Goiás" aiming to evaluate "tambaqui" (Colossoma macropomum) production performance after feeding diets containing increasing levels of substitution of corn meal by pearl millet grain meal. Two hundred and fourty juvenile "tambaquis" (29.03 ± 3.96 g) were randomly distributed among 12 ponds and fed for 189 days, at 8 to 3 live weight, with one of 4 experimental diets, with increasing levels of substitution of corn meal by pearl millet grain meal (0, 20, 40, and 60%) and with tree replications for each treatment. It was not reported significant differences (F-test, P>0.05) between the diets, on the parameters of production performance analyzed, and related to the different diets used, corn or pearl millet grain. It was possible to conclude that in these conditions the pearl millet can be included in the diet until the higher level tested. It is recommended subsequent researches to test higher inclusions and for longer periods.