Sodium bicarbonate for early lactation cows fed corn silage or hay crop silage-based diets.
To compare the effects of NaHCO3 in diets based on different forage sources, 16 Holstein cows, in a split-plot design, were assigned at 2 d postpartum to a total mixed diet of either 30% hay crop silage: 70% concentrate or 40% corn silage: 60% concentrate (dry basis) that contained 0 or 1.25% NaHCO3. Over the first 6 wk postpartum, NaHCO3 increased milk fat percentage in cows fed the corn silage-based diet. During wk 2 through 6 postpartum, NaHCO3 increased milk yield with the hay crop silage-based diet and tended to decrease milk yield with the corn silage-based diet. Sodium bicarbonate increased digestion of NDF with both forages and increased excretion of urinary nitrogen with the corn silage-based diet. Responses to NaHCO3 by cows in early lactation may depend on the nature of the dietary forage component.
Canale
C J
CJ
Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Maine, Orono 04469.
Stokes
M R
MR
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012820:Silage; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D003313:Zea mays
D001639:Bicarbonates; D005223:Fats; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012964:Sodium