Utilization of Banana Plant (Musa paradiosiaca L.) as Feed for Crossbred Cattle

Whole banana plants (Musa paradiosiea L after removal of fruits) were chopped and dried under sun and fed to 6 crossbredd (Ongole x Holstein) bulls (6-7 yrs; 422 kg) aa sole feed without any supplement for 30 d. The DM intake was sbout 84% oofhe eeqqirement. The CF digestibility was quite high. Lignin had no depressing effect on the utilization of structural carbohydrates. N and Ca balaaces were eositive while P balancn was marginally negative indicating the need for supplementation. The DCP and TDN contents of whole banana plants were 3.95 and 50.26%, respectively. All the ruminal N fractions except food and protozoal-N peaked at 4h post feeding and pH values were inversely related to TVFA concentration. The results indicated that whole banana plants could be utilized as sole fodder for cattle without any deleterious effect However, supplementation with energy ynd P rich ingredients was necessary.