3Iay 3, 1920.J Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 307 



content are somewhat less than either of these. The comparatively high 

 fibre content is due to the adhesion of the glumes or cover to the seed, and 

 the shiny natuie of these glumes is responsible for the mistaken notion of a 

 high oil content and wrongful comparison with linseed on this account. 



It has been found that the digestibility of the starch is about 10 per cent, 

 or more less than that of maize. With the much higher fibre content, it 

 would seem that broom millet seed has therefore only about 80 per cent, of 

 the feeding value of maize. Being eaten readily, when of good quality, by all 

 kinds of stock and poultry, and therefore of high palatability, a good sample 

 of broom millet seed should be about four-fifths the value of maize. That is, 

 with maize at the present price of <£19 per ton, broom millet seed of good 

 quality should be worth about £15 per ton. A bushel of broom millet seed 

 will weigh from 43 to 501b. 



Heated, musty, mouldy, or weevily broom millet seed is, however, practically 



worthless for some kinds of stoclv. j 



i 

 I 



Uses for DiflFerent Kinds of Stock. 



Where stock ai-e kept (as with maize or other grain suitable for stock- 

 feeding), the value of broom millet seed is, in most cases,, greater on the fa^m 

 where it is grown than when marketed. On account of the small size of the 

 grain and its hardness, it is advisable to grind or crush it before feeding, 

 except for sheep or poultry. ; 



For farm horses, many farmers on the coast have ft>und it an excelleht 

 substitute for maize, being nutritious and palatable when ground, but there 

 should be no hint of damage by heating, or trouble will be experienced. 

 With lucerne hay, which makes up for its deficiency in protein, the groutid 

 seed can also be fed to cattle. \ 



For pigs the grain is improved by soaking — -especially with skim milk, 

 which helps to balance it as a ration, particularly for young stock. 



At the present time, when grain is in great demand in the drougl;it- 

 stricken west, and not inclined to diminish in price, broom millet seed can 

 well be substituted foi- maize for sheep. For this purpose it will not require 

 crushing, but should be fed in a trough, as the grain is too small to be picked 

 up effectively from the ground like maize. 



For poultry it can be substituted in part for wheat or maize, and can be 

 fed whole. This is the use it is most largely put to on the average farm where 

 it is produced, and with the present prices of other grains poultry-farmers 

 wdll find broom millet seed a comparatively cheap and efficient substitute if 

 they can procure it of good quality. Mr. Hadlington, Poultry Expert, 

 suggests that a good way to use the broom millet seed is to grind it to a 

 meal and use up to 10 per cent, in the. morning mash. Taking into con- 

 sideration the factor of palatability when used in this way, it might be 

 advisable to start with a smaller percentage at first. 



