ABSTRACT
Effect of replacement of para grass (Brachiaria mutica) by banana pseudostem (Musa spp.) in diets on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in growing Lai Sind cattle An experiment was conducted by using a 4 x 4 Latin square design on 4 male Lai Sind calves to find replaceable
levels of para grass (Brachiaria mutica) by banana pseudostem in diet suitable for growing Lai Sind calves. The treatments were replacement levels of Para grass by the banana pseudostem (based on DM) being 0, 10, 20 and 30 % (TC0, TC10, TC20 and TC30). The results indicated that DM intakes were significantly different (p0.05). Apparent digestibility of DM , OM, CP and NDF was not significantly different (P>0.05) among the treatments, however there was an gradual increase of DM digestibility from TC0 to TC20 treatment. The rumen parameters were not affected by the replacement of Para grass by banana pseudostem. The conclusion was that
banana pseudostem could be replaced Para grass in diet of the Lai Sind calves at a level of 20 %.
Keywords: banana, digestion, feed utilization, growth, rice straw, ruminants.