Effects of Sodium Bicarbonate with Three Ratios of Hay Crop Silage to Concentrate for Dairy Cows

Abstract

Three ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were fed total mixed diets of hay crop silage and concentrate (30:70, 50:50, 70:30, 100:0) to evaluate effects of sodium bicarbonate supplements equivalent to 0, .4, and .7% of total ration dry matter (0, 68, and 114 g/d). Yields of milk, fat-corrected milk, fat, protein, and solids-not-fat, percentages of milk protein and solids-not-fat, and efficiency of production of fat-corrected milk declined with decreasing concentrate proportion. Buffer supplementation reduced milk fat percentage and milk yield was greater with 68 g/d sodium bicarbonate than with 114 g/d. Digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, cell solubles, and crude protein declined with decreasing proportion of concentrate while cellulose digestibility increased linearly. The proportion of dietary nitrogen transferred to milk decreased linearly with decreasing proportion of concentrate and sodium bicarbonate increased this transfer with the 70% concentrate diet. Sodium bicarbonate increased ruminal pH and acetate proportion while decreasing ammonia concentration. Acetate:propionate ratio was decreased by sodium bicarbonate addition to the 70% concentrate diet. High concentrate diets with hay crop silage may require higher amounts of buffers to influence production. © 1986, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.