HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Donker, J. D. Articles by Marx, G. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Donker, J. D. Articles by Marx, G. D.

Sodium Bicarbonate in Diets for Milking Holstein Cows¹

Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108 and Crookston 56716

ABSTRACT

Sixty-two Holstein cows were used to evaluate ingestion of sodium bicarbonate. Half of the cows were fed a control diet and the other half a diet in which the concentrate contained 1.5% sodium bicarbonate. Concentrate was fed at 1 kg per 2 kg milk above 9.1 kg milk daily. Amounts of concentrate consumed by both groups were equal. The bicarbonate group consumed more forage, and as a result crude fiber intake was greater. The forage, fed to appetite, was half corn silage and half alfalfa haylage as fed. Cows fed bicarbonate tended to produce more milk with no change in fat content and tended to gain more weight. Although mean milk fat was considered normal, low-fat milk (2.5% or below) was observed 28 times among 14 cows, but these observations were distributed equally among groups. Low-fat milk was produced most often during the 3rd and 4th mo of lactation.

¹ Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 11,034, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.