Abstract
Buffered concentrates were fed to lactating Holsteins receiving 5.46 to 10.9kg of roughage daily in three trials with 12 cows per trial. Sodium bicarbonate fed as 3.84% of the concentrate or as .34kg per cow daily significantly increased (P<.05) 4% fatcorrected milk, daily fat production and acetic:propionic ratio with all levels of roughage fed. Concentrate plus NaHCO3 fed with 5.46 to 9.1kg of roughage per day increased fat and total solids percentages, molar proportion of rumen acetic acid, and decreased molar proportion of rumen propionic acid. Highroughage (10.9 kg/day) plus NaHCO3 significantly increased rumen pH to 6.70 compared with 6.25 for low-roughage control (7.28 kg/day). A combination of 1.92% each of NaHCO3 and MgO added to the concentrate significantly reduced concentrate intake, weight gain, total milk and total protein and increased fat and total solids percentages. These data indicate that amount of roughage in the diet influences response to NaHCO3. Addition of MgO depressed feed intake and milk yield. Experimental design did not permit evaluation as to whether other effects were due to MgO or reduced concentrate intake.
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