Sugar cane and its by-products in animal feed

The whole sugarcane plant and its by-products (tied-up cane, cane juice, molasses, bagasse) can be utilised by livestock. Ruminants can utilise all sugarcane products, whereas monogastric animals can only efficiently utilise the fractions with the lowest fibre content (sugarcane juice, molasses). Regardless of the animal species and the products involved, a high level of nitrogen supplementation is essential. Whole sugarcane and its various fractions are deficient in protein. The utilisation of whole sugarcane, following its separation into fractions (juice, bagasse and bagasse), is optimal when both ruminants and monogastric animals are present on a farm. Further research is still needed to develop livestock production within sugarcane-based production systems.