Gastrointestinal Tract pH Environment and the Influence of Buffering Materials on the Performance of Ruminants

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Abstract
There is little agreement among research workers about the influence of buffering materials on the performance of ruminants. While some studies have shown beneficial responses to buffer additions, others have found either no response or even a reduction in animal performance. For many years, ruminant nutritionists have devoted most of their research efforts to studying the effect of buffering materials on the reticulorumen environment. Consequently, there is a paucity of information about the possible influence of buffering materials on lower gastrointestinal tract pH environment. Several buffering materials are available that have potential for use in ruminant nutrition. Some of these materials are of limited value because they are effective only within very narrow pH ranges. Furthermore, physical and (or) chemical properties of other buffering materials may restrict their use in ruminant diets. Variations in animal response to buffering materials may be attributed at least in part to differences in rate of reactivity of the material because of its physical form and (or) source. Material from one source may be very reactive as a buffer, while a similar material from another source could have a slow rate of reactivity. It seems likely that the effect of buffering materials on gastrointestinal tract pH environment depends on both the amount and kind of buffer used. If buffering materials are to become useful in improving animal performance, additional research must be conducted to examine more specifically the physiological and biochemical basis for the use of buffering materials to control the gastrointestinal tract environment of ruminants. Copyright © 1980. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1980 by American Society of Animal Science.

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