title: Response in two commercial Holstein herds to addition of sodium bicarbonate to alfalfa hay-based diets.
abstract: Feeding trials were conducted in two commercial dairy herds to evaluate the addition of .8% sodium bicarbonate to alfalfa hay-based diets. Approximately half of each herd served as controls and the other half was fed the same diet with sodium bicarbonate. A total of 1280 Dairy Herd Improvement Association lactation records were obtained in the two herds during the trials. Cows in herd 1 were milked three times daily and cows in herd 2 were milked twice daily. In herd 1, milk production from control and bicarbonate groups was: first lactation cows, 7491 and 7748 kg/cow; second lactation cows, 8363 and 8791 kg/cow; and third and higher lactation cows, 8713 and 9562 kg/cow. There were no differences in milkfat or solids-not-fat percentages between treatment groups. In herd 2, milk production from control and bicarbonate groups was: first lactation cows, 6800 and 7158 kg/cow; second lactation cows, 8487 and 8082 kg/cow; and third and higher lactation cows, 8807 and 8216 kg/cow. First lactation cows fed sodium bicarbonate had a lower milk fat percentage than controls. There were no other differences in milk fat or solids-not-fat percentages between treatment groups.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bath
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Hight
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: De Peters
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives; D007774:Lactation; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D000455:Medicago sativa; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D005503:Food Additives; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012964:Sodium