Efficiency of Fresh and Fermented Banana Stem in Low Protein Diet on Nutrient Digestibility, Productive Performance and Intestinal Morphology of Crossbred Pig ((Thai native x Meishan) x Duroc)

Abstract

Banana stem is a common feed component for raising pigs in mountainous Southeast Asia. However, its nutritive value and digestibility are low. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of unfermented and fermented banana stems on crossbred pigs concerning nutrient digestibility, productive performance, and intestinal morphology. Initially, an in vitro ileal digestibility test was performed for the following feedstuffs: fresh banana stem (BS), fermented banana stem (FBS), concentrate (C), fresh banana stem + concentrate (BSC), and fermented banana stem + concentrate (FBSC). For the 120-day experiment, 16 crossbred pigs were divided into two groups and fed with BSC and FBSC. They were placed in individual cages and subsequently moved to metabolic cages for seven days to determine apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). Finally, all pigs were slaughtered and their small intestines were analyzed for intestinal morphology. The results show that pure fresh and fermented banana stems had low digestibility. However, their digestibility increased by 50% when mixed with concentrate. Crossbred pigs fed BSC and FBSC did not exhibit significant differences in their performance, but the intestinal morphology of the FBSC group had improved intestinal morphology, especially the villi height. In conclusion, both fresh and fermented banana stems can be recommended in a low protein diet as feed for crossbred pigs in an improved production system. This is relevant for raising pigs in mountainous areas, as it has the potential to reduce feed cost and maintain production performance.

Effects of Fermented Banana Stem as Corn Substitutes on Performance and Protein Utilization in Growing-Finishing Pigs

“…This result is consistent with the findings of Thiet et al (2022) in male pigs that administration of <20% FBS can increase body weight gain, while >20% can decrease body weight gain. This is in contrast to the results of Arjin et al (2021), which indicated that FBS can be used up to 50% when mixed with concentrates (a mixture of different feed ingredients), resulting in the same weight gain in pigs as with banana stems without fermentation. In broilers, the use of FBS resulted in the best weight gains up to 10% [28].…”

“…The process of fermentation of banana stems causes the nutrients in banana stems to be properly digested by pigs [1], so the nutrients in rations containing banana stems as a substitute for corn are adequate and balanced for pigs. The addition of fermented ingredients increases the biological, biochemical and palatability values so that pigs eating fermented banana stems can achieve good growth [7].…”

Effect of fiber source diet supplement on growth performance, carcass quality, oxidative stress and intestinal morphology in Thai native chicken (Pradu Hang dum)

“…The addition of BS to the diet of native chickens did not affect to feed intake but it affects to body weight and feed conversion ratio. Other researchers have found similar effects in poultry using fermented banana stems (Arjin et al, 2021), banana peel (Siyal et al, 2016), banana leave fermented (Mandey et al, 2015). Moreover, NG supplementation also had the same effect (Asaduzzaman, 2019;Khempaka et al, 2021;Kiggundu et al, 2022) Although the FI volume is not different, but the daily body weight gain was significantly indicated that replacing 5-10% concentrate with Napier grass had no detrimental effect on body weight gain.…”

Reducing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions of organic waste by utilizing banana stems as starter local pig feed

“…Complete Feed or Total Mixed Ration is a way of feeding livestock unconventionally where several feed ingredients are mixed homogeneously and given to livestock, namely between high-fiber feed ingredients such as forage and high-quality feed ingredients such as concentrates. The purpose of complete feeding is to increase body weight gain as a result of the even distribution of daily ration intake [7]. Complete feeding also does not provide an opportunity for livestock to choose the feed provided as is the case with conventional feeding where forage feed is given separately with concentrate feed.…”