A Study of Nutritive Value of Banana Tree By- product’s Silage, using in vitro and in situ Methods

The present experiment was carried out to investigate the nutritive value of banana tree leaves and stems silage by use of in vitro gas production and as well in situ nylon bag techniques. Experimental treatments were comprised of: 1- Stems and leaves of banana trees (control), 2- Stems and leaves of banana trees’ silage without addition of any additive, 3- Stems and leaves of banana trees’ silage + 15% refusal dates, 4- Stems and leaves of banana trees’ silage + 5% wheat straw and 5- Stems and leaves of banana trees’ silage + 15% refusal dates + 5% wheat straw. After two months, silages were opened up while pH and apparent characteristics of silage materials determined. Then, evaluated were: the chemical compositions by standard method, dry matter degradability through in situ nylon bag methods and organic matter digestibility as well as metabolisable energy through in vitro gas production techniques. Results revealed that addition of refusal dates decreased NDF while increasing WSC, indicating that it improved the quality of silage. Dry matter degradability in banana tree residues with 15% refusal dates plus 5% wheat straw silage treatment was the highest, while banana tree residues with 5% wheat straw silage treatment was of the lowest degradability (p<0.05). In gas production trial, the highest gas production volume, organic matter digestibility and metabolasable energy beloged to Banana tree residues plus 15% refusal dates silage treatment (p<0.05). As a whole, the results indicated that banana tree residues plus 15% refusal dates silage was the most suitable treatment as compared with other treatments and can be recommended for being used in animal nutrition (sheep and goats).