Does a whole millet grain-based diet replace whole corn grain in non-forage diets for goat kids?

Abstract Twenty-one Anglo-Nubian goat kids (21.6 ± 2.9 kg of initial body weight) were distributed in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of the replacement of whole corn grain for whole millet grain in non-forage diets on the performance, ingestive behavior, physiological parameters, and carcass characteristics of goat kids finished in feedlot system. The experimental diets consisted of a control diet (CON), containing 100 g/kg of hay and 900 g/kg of concentrate, and two non-forage diets: whole corn grain-based diet (WC) or whole millet grain diet (WM), both composed of 200 g/kg of commercial pellet and 800 g/kg of respective whole grain. The WC and WM reduced (P < 0.05) dry matter (DM) intake; however, only WC reduced crude protein intake (P = 0.001). As expected, CON showed the highest fiber intake and time spent in rumination (P = 0.026), while WM showed the highest fat (EE) intake (P < 0.01). WC increased the digestibility of DM (P = 0.042) and EE (P = 0.025). As expected, WC and WM showed higher rumination efficiency of DM and fiber (P < 0.01). Diets did not affect physiological parameters. WC reduced (P < 0.05) average daily gain, final weight, and hot carcass weight, however, the kidney was reduced by the CON diet (P < 0.05). However, diets did not influence carcass yield, qualitative parameters, and leg tissue composition (P > 0.05). Millet can replace corn in non-forage diets, providing good performance and adequate carcass characteristics and leg tissue composition.