Nutritive value of banana (Musa acuminata L.) fruits for ruminants

The nutritive value of unripe banana fruits for goats was studied by ruminal degradability, in vitro digestibility and voluntary intake trials. Banana fruits contained 209 g dry matter (DM) kg−1 and their average composition per kg DM was 922 g organic matter (OM), 21 g ether extract, 60 g crude protein and 166 g neutral detergent fibre. Degradable and digestible OM content of bananas was 628 and 783 g kg−1 DM, respectively. Degradability of crude protein was 74.1%. The net energy for lactation (NEl) content of bananas was estimated to be 7.55 MJ NEl kg−1 DM. Daily voluntary banana intake was more than 95% of the offered amount (5 kg fresh fruits). The good palatability and high energy content make unripe banana fruits a suitable feed for goats, similar to barley but with lower protein content.