Nutritional Evaluation of Whole Banana Plant in Cattle

Six crossbred bullocks (334.3±13.9 kg b.wt.) were fed chopped banana plants ad lib. for a period of 15 days and there after a metabolism trial was conducted. Average DM intake was 1.26 kg/100 kg body weight. Bullocks consumed 4.9, 3.6 and 40.5 g CP, DCP and TDN/kg W^0.75, respecttvely. The digestibility coefficients were 78.0,80.8,73.7,70.9,88.6 and 78.6 for DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and NFE, respectively. The balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus were positive. The whole banana plants (stem and leaves) contained 6.4% DCP and 75.0% TDN, on DM basis. Bullocks maintained their body weight, however, incidences of diarrhoea were observed. The feeding of whole banana plants (stem and leaves) will meet the maintenance requirement of cattle.