Review: Use and misuse of meta-analysis in Animal Science

Area of Science:

• Animal Sciences
• Agricultural Research
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Meta-analyses in animal sciences are growing by 15% annually.
• This review addresses best practices and potential challenges in conducting meta-analyses within animal sciences, with a focus on nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive guide on conducting robust meta-analyses in animal sciences.
• To highlight critical phases and potential pitfalls in the meta-analysis process.

Main Methods:

• The review discusses essential phases of meta-analysis: defining objectives, establishing clear data selection/exclusion criteria for traceability, and data coding for accurate interpretation.
• It emphasizes evaluating factor independence and data balance in meta-design for valid statistical analysis.
• Consideration of fixed versus random study effects is also discussed.

Main Results:

• Clear criteria for data selection and coding are crucial for reproducibility and accurate interpretation.
• Assessing factor independence and data balance is essential for the validity of statistical processing.
• The choice between fixed or random study effects generally does not impact conclusions with sufficient experimental data.

Conclusions:

• Adhering to good practices in meta-analysis conduct ensures the reliability and validity of findings in animal sciences.
• Careful attention to each phase, from data selection to statistical considerations, is vital for robust scientific synthesis.