evaluation of fox tail millet (setaria italica) forage quality in different growth stages

in order to evaluate the quantitative factors in fox tail millet (setaria italica l.) under three stages of growth, an experiment was conducted in birjand during spring and summer of 2010. the preliminary objective was evaluation of fox tail physiological characteristics on animals that feed them. planting of foxtail millet was performed according to local practices and endemic acknowledge. sampling was carried out at vegetative, flowering and seeding stages, then samples transported to laboratory of animal nutrition. after drying of sampling, dry matter, dry matter digestibility, crude protein, metabolically energy, acid detergent fiber and nitrogen detergent fiber, ash and some mineral nutrients were measured. the results showed significant differences in measured characteristics in various phonological stages. forage quality was higher in flowering and seeding stages than in vegetative stage. dry matter digestibility and metabolically energy were high and ndf and adf were less in vegetative stage. because fox tail millet is leafy and palatable by animal at this stage, it’s optimum yield is important. ability to produce green fodder by this plant and the possibility of cultivation in different regions and its ability to produce forage for livestocks, its planting is recommended.