Performance of Goats Fed Banana Plant Waste and Silage Based Diets

The fresh banana plant waste (FBPW) and its silage (FBPWS) based diets were evaluated in goats for six weeks. The goats (n=30) were divided into six similar groups and fed one of the diets: T₁ (FBPW + concentrate feed mixture), T₂ (FBPWS alone), T₃ (FBPWS + concentrate feed mixture), T₄ (FBPWS + soybean meal), T₅ (FBPWS + maize mixed with slow releasing nitrogen product) and T₆ (FBPWS + wheat bran). The crude protein content of the diets varied from 5.44 to 27.55%. The total dry matter intake, nutrient intake, digestibility and nutrient density were different (P<0.01) among treatments. Furthermore, animals in all the groups were on positive nitrogen balance with similar serum biochemical parameters. It was concluded that, sole diet of banana plant waste silage could not be used even at maintenance level of feeding. However, FBPW and its silage could be fed to goats in meeting more than 50% of daily DM requirement with suitable quantity of concentrate feed mixture.