Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate on Microbial Activity in the Rumen

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Abstract
Sodium bicarbonate, incorporated in the drinking water of fistulated steers fed a pelleted complete ration, had a highly significant effect on the anaerobic counts in the rumen juice and on the regression of anaerobic counts with time. No significant regression of counts on water or feed consumption was observed but significant negative regressions of acetic, butyric, valeric acids and the sum of these plus propionic acid on water consumption occurred. There was no significant effect on the pH of the rumen juice, and no apparent effect in changing the predominant flora of the rumen as detected on TGYE media. The predominant organisms were found to be members of the genera, Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium (anaerobic) and Bacillus, Micrococcus, and Ramibacterium (aerobic) with the latter being facultative.