Banana peels are widely used by smallholders as supplementary feeds for cattle and small ruminants in the tropics (Onwuka et al., 1997; Happi Emaga et al., 2011). Their nutritive value for ruminants is estimated to be similar to that of cassava peels or citrus peels. Green peels contain more metabolizable energy than ripe peels. More research is needed into the value of the pods as feed and also the potential effects of the changes in tannin content during ripening (Happi Emaga et al., 2011).

Cattle

Dairy cows fed up to 21 kg of fresh ripe banana peels increased milk production (Dormond et al., 1998). In grass-fed zebu cattle, a supplement of 15 to 30% of dietary DM from banana peels was highly palatable and increased weight gain significantly without causing health problems, but banana peel supplementation was not cost-effective (Hernan Botero et al., 2000).

Goats

In goats, dry ripe plantain peels can fully replace maize grain without adverse effects on growth and animal performance, and were an economical source of carbohydrates (Aregheore, 1998). Dairy goats fed a basal diet of banana peels supplemented with a legume forage performed adequately, though butterfat and milk protein were lower than for diets based on maize leaves or elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (Nambi et al., 2001).