Whole Grain Millet

Millet is grown and harvested for its seeds. Grain handlers remove the inedible hull and may grind the edible kernel for kibble. Keeping its bran and germ makes the ground ingredient whole grain.^5,6,7

1. 01 // Source Mature millet seeds Farmers harvest seed heads for grain; proso millet has an existing US food and birdseed market.
2. 02 // Process Clean and hull Grain handlers remove foreign material and the inedible outer hull, leaving the edible kernel.
3. 03 // Process Grind kernels Milling breaks the kernels while retaining their bran, germ and starchy center in the ingredient.
4. 04 // Output Whole grain millet Clean grain, often ground for mixing, arrives at the kibble plant ready for extrusion.

1. 01

   Supplies cookable starch

   Millet is mostly starch. Extrusion cooks it, giving dogs usable energy while helping the finished kibble hold its shape.^1,2,4

2. 02

   Adds some grain fiber

   Retaining the bran keeps fiber in the ingredient. Dogs passed formed stools on a millet diet, but that trial did not show a gut health benefit.^1,4,6

3. 03

   Fits an existing supply

   Proso millet already moves through US food and birdseed markets. A mixed grain recipe also used less mechanical energy during extrusion than a pulse recipe, though millet alone cannot take the credit.^3,7

How much A controlled trial fed a complete recipe containing 40% white proso millet; dogs accepted it and passed formed stools.¹

1. Brands say

   Dogs get usable energy from millet

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In an 8-dog ingredient study, starch from extruded millet was 99.1% digestible. A separate 10-dog trial fed a complete millet recipe that dogs accepted and digested well. Millet works as an energy grain.^1,2

2. Brands say

   Millet is gentler than legume recipes

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 12-dog switch-back trial, a grain-free recipe produced higher wet fecal output and lower fecal dry matter than a recipe with millet, spelt and sorghum (P < 0.05). The diets were mixed recipes, so the stool difference cannot be pinned on millet alone.³

3. Brands say

   Whole grain millet improves gut health

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A 10-dog trial measured fecal bacteria and fermentation products. The clearest increases in fermentation products came from amaranth and oats. It measured no gut health benefit from millet.¹

4. Brands say

   Millet keeps blood sugar steadier than rice

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 10-dog crossover feeding 40% millet, post-meal glucose and insulin responses did not differ from the rice diet. The tested millet recipe gave no blood sugar advantage.¹

5. Brands say

   Gluten-free millet makes food allergy-safe

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Millet naturally lacks gluten, but that does not make a finished recipe allergy-safe. The 10-dog millet trial did not test allergies; NC State recommends a controlled elimination trial to identify food reactions.^1,9,11