Effects of Limestone and Sodium Bicarbonate Buffers on Rumen Measurements and Rate of Passage in Cattle

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Abstract
Eight rumen-fistulated cattle (four Angus steers and four nonlactating Holstein cows) were fed a cracked corn-based concentrate (65% of dry matter) and corn silage (35% of dry matter) diet containing: (1) no buffer, (2) 2.5% limestone, (3) 2% sodium bicarbonate (NaHC03) or (4) 1.25% limestone and 1.25% NaHCCO3, Each diet was fed at approximately maintenance and two times maintenance levels of intake, resulting in eight treatments in a Latin square design. Buffer treatments had no effect (P>.10) on rumen fluid pH, rumen ammonia N concentration, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration or rumen buffering capacity between pH 7.0 and 5.5. Rate of disappearance of solid and liquid fractions from the rumen was measured using Cr-labeled dietary fiber and Co-EDTA, respectively. Rate of disappearance was not significantly affected by treatments, although liquid disappearance rate Was 7% faster with buffer treatments than with the control. Fecal pH was increased (P<.01) approximately .5 units by all buffer treatments. Increasing intake to two times maintenance resulted in lower rumen pH (6.03 vs 6.37), increased total VFA concentration (115 vs 99 mmol/liter), increased rate of liquid disappearance from the rumen (6.6 vs 5.8%/h) and decreased concentration of Cr in the dry matter fraction of the rumen contents (all P<.01) Copyright © 1982. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1982 by American Society of Animal Science

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