Inclusión de harina de banano en la alimentación de ovinos en un sistema de agricultura familiar

Sheep meat production (Ovis aries) contributes to food security challenges, especially in regions with limited access to high-quality protein, whether due to its economic cost or scarcity. This study aimed to determine the impact of including banana flour in sheep diets on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, and economic viability, developed within family farming systems (in Loja – Ecuador). Over a 90-day period, two feeding treatments were applied to the sheep: Group 1: T300 (300 g/day of a feed ration containing banana flour); Group 2: T500 (500 g/day of the same mixture). A control group, T0, received a standard ration without banana flour. All groups were maintained on pasture with saboya grass (Megathyrsus maximus Jacq.). The results show that the T500 treatment had the highest weight gain (13.68 kg) and better feed conversion efficiency, with a value of 7.24, suggesting more effective utilization of nutritional resources. Meanwhile, the T300 treatment stood out in feed intake (15.84 kg) and a higher B/C ratio (1.52). However, T500 also demonstrated good economic profitability (B/C = 1.45). In all cases, T0 obtained the lowest results. This indicates that including banana flour can be an effective and viable feeding option for the growth and fattening of crossbred male sheep in family or small-scale production systems, potentially promoting comprehensive nutritional management and becoming a sustainable strategy in the sheep industry in Loja Province.