In the present study, use of banana stem with urea treated and untreated paddy straw to formulate complete rations were evaluated for crossbred calves. Fifteen weaned crossbred (HF×Jersey) male calves with average body weight 87.7 kg were divided into three groups viz. C, T1 and T2 comprising five animals in each group and fed for 90 days. Two isonitrogenous and isocaloric complete ration (T1 and T2) using 20% banana stem, 30% untreated and urea (3%) treated paddy straw with concentrate ingredients at the

ratio of 50:50 roughage and concentrate were prepared. Calves belongs to control (C) group were fed with standard concentrate mixture. Calves of T1 and T2 groups were fed with complete ration. The DMI per animal per day, per 100 kg body weight and per kg W0.75 were comparable among the groups and no significant difference was observed between the groups. Non significant difference were observed among the groups in respect of digestibility coefficient of DM, OM and NFE but there was significant

difference (P<0.05) in CP, EE, CF, NDF and ADF among the groups and the values were higher in T1 and T2 group as compared to control group. Calves of different groups were in positive balance of N, Ca and P, however significant different were observed among the group in respect of balance and retention of N, Ca and P. The FCE was significantly lower in T1 and T2 groups as compared to the control group C. The feed cost per kg gain in body weight was ` 155.86, ` 173.99 and ` 153.44 for C, T1 and T2 group, respectively. In conclusion, the banana stem can be used upto 20% in the paddy straw based complete

rations for growing calf without any adverse effect.

Highlights

• The scarcity of feed and fodder for livestock feeding led to the utilization of non-conventional and non-competitive crop residues and agro-industrial by-products.
• The non-conventional crop banana stem @ 20% can be used in the paddy straw based complete rations to fed growing calf.