The effects of including sodium bicarbonate in the diet of dairy cows in early lactation

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Abstract
Two experiments examined the effects of including sodium bicarbonate in the diet of dairy cows in early lactation for two different feeding systems. In experiment 1, 28 Friesian cows were allocated to two groups according to parity, calving date and their milk yield in days 5 to 14. Cows were given either a standard home-mixed concentrate or a similar concentrate with sodium bicarbonate included at 25 kg/t. Concentrates were given to individual cows twice daily at a flat rate determined by their 5- to 14-day yield, and hay was group-fed to appetite. Milk yield in days 15 to 100 post-calving did not differ significantly between treatments, but cows given concentrate containing bicarbonate ate more hay and had a higher milk fat concentration (36·0 v. 32·5 g/kg, P < 0·01). In experiment 2, 80 cows were allocated to two treatments according to parity, calving date and previous lactation yield. There were two replicates of each treatment. All groups were given silage and concentrates as a complete diet for 8 weeks from calving, and 20 g sodium bicarbonate per kg total dry matter was included in the diet of half the animals. Cows given the diet containing bicarbonate had higher food intakes (14·9 v. 13·9 kg dry matter per head per day) and lower live-weight losses (13 v. 44 kg, P < 0·001). Milk yield and milk quality did not differ between treatments. Conception tended to be better in cows given the bicarbonate diet.