Effects of sugarcane bagasse inclusion on rumen fermentability and feeding behavior in large ruminants: A meta-analysis

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is the main by-product of the sugar industry and represents a potential fiber source for ruminant feeding. Due to inconsistent findings across studies, this study aimed to synthesize the available evidence through meta-analysis to derive more robust and reliable conclusions on the effects of sugarcane bagasse inclusion in ruminant diets. The study was initiated by constructing a database in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Literature searches were performed in two databases, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. Relevant data were extracted and analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS On Demand for Academics. This meta-analysis revealed that SCB had no significant effect (P>0.05) on rumen fermentability (pH, N-NH3, total and partial volatile fatty acids (VFA)), but significantly reduced feeding time (P<0.05), while rumination, idling, and total chewing time were unaffected. Therefore, SCB can be used as a fiber source in large ruminant diets, with a moderate inclusion level to prevent reduced feed intake and productivity.