Effect of Dietary Sodium Bicarbonate and Magnesium Oxide
on Production and Physiology in Early Lactation 1
ABSTRACT
Twenty cows were in an experiment to
measure effects of dietary buffers,
sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide,
on ration adjustment and incidence of
metabolic problems in the first 8 wk
postpartum. Cows were fed 2.7 kg grain
per day and alfalfa ad libitum prepartum
and switched immediately to a complete
ration of 40% corn silage and 60% con-
centrate (dry matter) postpartum. Treat-
ments included 1.5% sodium bicarbonate
and .8% magnesium oxide (total ration
dry matter) fed in a 2 x 2 factorial
arrangement. Cows receiving bicarbonate
peaked 2 to 3 wk earlier in intake and
averaged 2.1 kg per day greater intake
than those fed the control diet. Actual
milk production was increased by sodium
bicarbonate with greatest differences for
cows receiving both buffers averaging 3.8
kg per day more milk than control cows.
Increases over controls were 2.6 and 5.6
kg fat-corrected milk per day for cows
receiving sodium bicarbonate alone or in
combination with magnesium oxide,
respectively. Sodium bicarbonate in-
creased acetate to propionate molar ratios
in rumen samples taken at 1 and 2 wk
postpartum whereas neither buffer had
any effect on rumen pH. Blood hematocrit
and urine pH were not affected by
treatment. Magnesium oxide increased
fecal pH .8 units and slightly decreased
Received September 20, 1979.
1This manuscript (79-5-141) is published with the
approval of the Director of the Kentucky Agricultural
Experiment Station.
2Syntex Agribusiness Corporation, Springfield, MO
68505.
3Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences,
University of Maine, Orono MA 00469.
1980 J Dairy Sei 63:923--930 923
R. A. E R D M A N , R. L. BOTTS, 2
R, W. H E M K E N , and L. S. B U L L ~
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Kentucky
Lexington 4 0 5 4 6
fecal starch, but sodium bicarbonate had
no effect.
INTRODUCTION
Buffers sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and
magnesium oxide (MgO) maintain milk fat
content for cows receiving high-grain diets (5,
6, 7, 19, 23). Buffers in dairy rations have been
recommended primarily where depression of
milk fat is a problem (3). The change o f prepar-
turn to postpartum ration in many herds
represents a switch from high fiber to low fiber
diet. Many problems are associated with rapid
dietary change including anorexia, acidosis, and
displaced abomasum (2, 3, 21). Studies with
beef cattle and sheep suggest benefits in im-
proved intake from addition of NaHCO3 to
starter feedlot rations (2, 3, 13, 21). Since
dietary changes at parturition are similar to
those on entry to the feedlot, it seemed possible
that these buffers might stimulate intake and
production in early lactation.
Objectives were 1) to determine effects of
NaHCO3 and MgO during rapid dietary change-
over following parturition and 2) to measure
effects of these buffers on physiological mea-
sures and metabolic problems associated with
early lactation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty cows (4 Jerseys and 16 Holsteins)
which had at least one previous lactation were
fed a ration of 2.7 kg commercial concentrate
and alfalfa hay ad libitum during the dry
period. Cows were blocked by breed and day of
calving. Cows within each block were assigned
randomly to treatment and started immediately
postpartum on one of four experimental
rations. An experimental diet of corn silage and
concentrate was fed ad libitum in a 40:60
ratio (dry matter) as a completely mixed ration
for 8 wk following parturition. Composition
and chemical analysis are in Table 1. Arranged
924 ERDMAN ET AL.

TABLE 1. Ingredient and chemical composition of complete mixed rations (% dry matter basis).

Ration
.8% MgO +
Component Control 1.5% NaHCO3 .8% MgO 1.5% NaHCO3

Corn silage 40 40 40 40
Ground corn 38.6 36.6 37.2 35.2
Soybean meal (44%) 20.2 20.7 20.8 21.3
Trace mineral salt .6 .6 .6 .6
Limestone .6 .6 .6 .6
NaHCO3 .... 1.5 .... 1.5
MgO . . . . . . . . . 8 .8

Total 100 100 100 100

Chemical analysis
Prote~n 15.9 16.0 15.9 16.1
Starch 41.5 41.3 41.6 40.0
ADF 15.2 15.3 15.3 15.4
Ca .58 .58 .59 .55
P .51 .48 .51 .46
Mg .15 .15 .61 .61

in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, NalICO3 and by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (20).

MgO were added to complete rations (dry
matter basis) to provide the treatment groups;
1) control, 2) 1.5% NaHCO3, 3) .8% MgO, and
4) 1.5% NaHCO3 and .8% MgO.
Cows were fed individually to allow 5 to
10% feed refusal. Complete rations were mixed
by hand and offered in equal portions twice
daily. Measurements included daily feed intake
and milk production. Milk fat tests were
measured by Milk-O-Tester from morning and
evening milk samples taken weekly. Body
weights were measured 1 day at weekly intervals
prior to morning feeding. Rumen samples by
stomach tube, jugular blood samples, and urine
and fecal grab samples at 5 h postfeeding were
collected at 1 and 4 wk postpartum. In addition,
fecal samples were taken at 8 wk postpartum.
Blood was collected in heparinized centrifuge
tubes and centrifuged at 7000 × g for 10 rain.
Plasma was stored at - 2 0 C for later analysis.
Sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg),
and calcium (Ca) in blood plasma were analyzed
4Manufactured by Ohio Valley Specialty Chemical,
Inc., Marietta, OH 45750.
s Sigma Chemical Company, P.O. Box 14508, St.
Louis, MO 63178.
Plasma L-lactate was measured by the automated
procedure of Hochella and Weinhouse (14).
Phosphorus (P) in plasma was measured by an
automated modification of the phosphomolyb-
dic reduction of stannous chloride hydrazine
procedure (9).
Rumen samples were strained through four
layers of cheesecloth. One milliliter of 4%
mercuric chloride was added to 50 ml of
strained rumen fluid, and samples were stored
at - 2 0 C for later analysis. Samples were
thawed, acidified with 25% metaphosphoric
acid in a 5:1 dilution, and centrifuged at
10,000 × g. The supernatant was analyzed for
volatile fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography
with 15% carbowax 20 M-TPA on Chromosorb
W-AW DMCS 80/1004 packing in a 2-M glass
column at 150 C.
Samples of concentrate and silage were
collected weekly for determination of dry
matter. Dry matter of concentrate and feces
was measured in forced air oven at 100 C. Dry
matter of silage was measured by toluene
distillation. Urine, fecal, and rumen pH were
determined on fresh samples by a glass pH
electrode (26). Feed and fecal starch were
measured by the enzymatic digestion procedure
of MacRae and Armstrong (17) with an alpha 1,
4 glucan hydrolase, s Dietary protein was

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No..6, 1980

 DIETARY BUFFERS AND METABOLIC PROBLEMS
measured on wet samples by Kjeldahl procedure
and acid detergent fiber (ADF) by the method
of Goering and VanSoest (10).
Analysis of variance was factorial in a
randomized complete block design (1). Milk
production was analyzed by analysis of covari-
ance with 305-day mature equivalent records
for adjustment (1). Rumen, blood, fecal, and
urinary data were analyzed as a split-plot design
with treatments and blocks whole-plots and
weeks subplots (1). Individual differences
between treatment means were tested for
significance by Fisher's least significant differ-
ence (1) where tests were only after a significant
F-test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Incidence of metabolic problems was low,
possibly because diets were fed as completely
mixed rations which maintained a constant
fiber content and prevented overconsumption
of concentrate. One cow, receiving the ration
containing both NaHCO~ and MgO, had a
displaced abomasum 10 days after calving and
was removed. The next cow to calve replaced
her in that block. From the small incidence of
metabolic problems, statements cannot be
conclusive as to positive or negative effects of
treatment on incidence.
Cows fed the NaHCO 3 rations had 2.1 kg
per day greater total intakes (Table 2 and
TABLE 2. Effect of treatment on feed intake, milk production, fat test, and body weight change.
Parameter Control 1.5% NaHCO3
Dry matter intake (kg/day) 18.5a 20.7 b
Milk production (kg/day)* 34.5 a 36.1 ab
Fat test (%)* 3.80 3.96
Kg fat/day* 1.24 a 1.38ab
Fat-corrected milk (kg/day)* 32.5 a 35.1 ab
Body weight change (kg)
(wk 1 - wk 8) -10.1 +5.7
a'bMeans in the same row with different superscripts are different (P<.05).
BNaHCO3 treatment effect (P<.I).
BBNaHCO3 treatment effect (P<.05).
BBBNaHCO3 treatment effect (P<.O1).
*Adjusted by covariance for previous 305-day mature-equivalent lactation average.
925
Figure 1) than those fed control rations (P< .05).
Differences in voluntary intake were mainly in
wk 4 to 7 where cows receiving NaHCO3
peaked in intake earlier (P<.05) (Figure 1).
Other studies where NaHCO3 and MgO have
been used to maintain fat test have reported
slight decreases in total intake from addition of
either of these buffers (6, 7, 23). In most
studies of milk fat depression a m i n i m u m of
forage was fed, and grain and forage were fed
separately. These differences in ration content
might be related to difference in response to
buffers. Earlier peak intakes of feed in Figure 1
suggest benefits from improved adjustment to
ration similar to those for beef cattle and sheep
in feedlots (2, 13, 21).
Actual milk production was increased (P<.I)
by addition of NaHCO3 (Table 2), with the
greatest response in the groups receiving both
sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide
(Figure 2). One study of early lactation (16)
reported similar increases in milk production,
while most midlactation fat-depression studies
have reported no effect on milk production (6,
7, 19) with added NaHCO3 in the diet. A study
(16) of cows in a similar stage of lactation
and with similar diets also reported increased
intake from dietary NaHCO3.
Sodium bicarbonate and MgO did not affect
milk fat test significantly, although cows
receiving MgO alone had slightly lower fat tests
than all other treatment groups (Table 2).
Ration
.8% MgO +
.8% MgO 1.5% NaHCO3 SE
19.2ab 20.6 b •64 BB
34.9a 38.3 b 1.32B
3.62 4.05 .22
1.22 a 1.52b .07 BB
32.3 a 38.1 b 1.35BBB
-20.2 -32.7 18.2
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 6, 1980
926 ERDMAN ET AL.

25
rumen pH (Table 3), although NaHCOa and
23 BO I'll MgO tended to increase urine pH. Changes in
I . 5~ NalIC0
.8"o ~XlgO 3
urinary pH probably do not reflect true changes
~, 21 CONI ROI, in acid excretion. Most acid in urine is thought
to be excreted in the form of the a m m o n i u m
ion in ruminants consuming high concentrate
diets (22). Therefore, differences in pH probably
do not reflect the magnitude of differences in
acid secretion. Some workers have reported
increased ruminal pH with addition (7) of
~T l
T T f -[~ T T
2 3 "~ 5 b 7 S
NaHCO3 while others have not (7, 19). One
I~o t ' k I ' o s I p~l i't tanl
factor which increases variability of rumen pH
Figure 1. Feed intake by week. B) N a H C O a t r e a t - was use of a stomach tube for sampling.
ment effect (P<.05); BB) NaHCOa treatment effect Acetate to propionate molar ratio was
(P<.01). increased by addition of NaHCO3 (P<.05).
Other studies have shown similar shifts toward
acetate with the use of NaHCO3 (5, 6, 19, 23).
Magnesium oxide did not have a significant
Because of low ADF content (15.3%) of the effect on acetate to propionate ratio, although
rations, differences in percentage milk fat might there was a trend toward less acetate. Shifts in
have been expected. Differences in fat test and acetate to propionate ratios from addition of
milk yield contributed to a significant increase buffers or artificial saliva to the rumen have
in fat-corrected milk (FCM) and total fat
production (Table 2, Figure 2) for cows receiv-

~
ing NaHCO3 (P<.O1). Differences, however,
were largest for cows receiving both NaHCO3
and MgO. These differences were greatest -g BOTH
during 3 to 4 wk postpartum (Figure 2), where
cows receiving NaHCO 3 alone or in combination
with MgO had significantly higher FCM produc- CONTROL

tion (/9<.01). However, as total milk production . 8 1 MRO

1 . S ! NaHCO 3
3o
declined in the NaHCO3 group during the final
weeks of the study, a significant MgO x NaHCO3
interaction (/9<.01) was noted due to higher 25

FCM production for cows fed both buffers than 3"

the other groups. This was mainly due to differ-

ences in average daily milk production. The
TTf TTT
reason for the decline in milk yield for the
NaHCO3 is not apparent; however, the amount
(1.5%) of NaHCO3 is more than currently
recommended and may be approaching a detri-
mental amount. HCO3
o
Losses of body weight were most for cows 3/I
receiving magnesium oxide. However, differ-
ences in body weight change were not statist-
2S
ically significant. Much of the weight loss of
these two treatment groups occurred in the
first 3 wk of the experiment. T T T[- T T
1 2 3 4 S 6 7 8
Week Postpartum
There were no significant effects of time or
time by treatment interactions for blood, Figure 2. Average daily milk and fat-corrected milk
by week. B) NaHCO3 treatment effect (P<.05); BB)
rumen, and urinary data, so means are averages NaHCO3 treatment effect (P<.01); l) NaHCO3 by
of wk 1 and 4 in Table 3. There were no MgO interaction (P<.05); lI) NaHCO3 by MgO inter-
significant treatment effects on urinary and action (P<.01).

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 6, 1980

 DIETARY BUFFERS AND METABOLIC PROBLEMS 927

TABLE 3. Means by treatment for urine, rumen, and blood characteristics.

Treatment
.8% MgO +
Parameter Control 1.5% NaHCO 3 .8% MgO 1.5% NaHCO 3 SE

Urine pH 7.51 7.87 7.90 7.90 .17

Rumen pH 6.46 6.52 6.47 6.47 .16
Acetate:propionate (molar ratio) 1.70 ab 2.16 b 1.53 a 1.79 ab .25 B
Hematocrit (%) 33.1 34.1 35.5 34.1 1.8
Plasma Na (mg/100 ml) 351.7 338.3 339.9 342.8 7.2
Plasma K (rag/100 ml) 16.2c 17.9 cd 20.5 d 19.2 d 1.2 M
Plasma P (rag/100 ml) 4.6 4.7 4.8 3.4 .6
Plasma L-lactate (rag/100 ml) 9.5 8.1 14.7 10.2 2.9

a'bMeans in the same row with different superscripts are different (P<.05).
C'dMeans in the same row with different superscripts are different (P<.O1).
BNaHCO3 treatment effect (P<.05).
MMgO treatment effect (P<.01).

b e e n related t o increased rates o f liquid t u r n o v e r
in the r u m e n (11, 25). In evaluating e f f e c t s o f
b u f f e r s on r u m e n f e r m e n t a t i o n , t h e i r e f f e c t o n
dilution rate o f r u m e n liquid n e e d s to be
considered.
A d d i t i o n o f MgO significantly increased
fecal pH ( P < . 0 1 ) (Table 4). A d d i t i o n o f d i e t a r y
l i m e s t o n e resulted in significantly higher fecal
pH (8, 27, 28). Wheeler and Noller (27, 28)
s h o w e d a s t r o n g negative c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
fecal pH and fecal starch w h i l e o t h e r s have
r e p o r t e d o n l y casual r e l a t i o n s h i p (26). A l t h o u g h
c o w s fed MgO had l o w e r fecal starch d u r i n g w k
1 and 4, this d i f f e r e n c e was n o t significant.
D i f f e r e n c e s in fecal starch did n o t c o n t i n u e
t h r o u g h t h e 8th wk, w h i c h suggests a d a p t a t i o n

TABLE 4. Means by week and treatment for fecal pH and fecal starch content.

Treatment
.8% MgO +
Parameter Week Control 1,5% NaHCO 3 .8% MgO 1.5% NaHCO 3 ,X SE

Fecal pH 1 5.91 5.81 6.74 6.81 6.31 .21

4 6.04 5.93 6.54 c 6.81 6.33 .23
8 6.11 5.77 6.85 6.70 6.36 .21

,X 6.02 a 5.84 a 6.71 b 6.77 b

SE .07 .07 .07 .07 M

% Fecal starch
(dry matter basis) 1 15.6 11.1 8.4 7.2 10.6 4.5
4 12.2 8.2 3.3 c 9.6 8.3 5.1
8 7.5 6.2 5.3 6.7 6.4 4.5

11.8 8.5 5.7 7.8

SE 1.55 1.55 1.55 1.55

a'bMeans in the same row with different superscripts are different (P<.01).
CMean of three (3) observations due to missed sampling time.
MMgO treatment effect (P<.01).

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 6, 1980

928 ERDMAN ET AL.

40
3C Y = 40.59 - 5.03 x
m
12, = ,34 (P
28
5,2 514 5,6 5,8 6',0 " '
FECAL Pll
Figure 3. Relationship between fecal starch (dry
matter percent) and fecal p H for cows receiving rations
with (n) or without (A) MgO.
in the control diet. Regression analysis o f the
data (Figure 3) showed only a slight relationship
(r = - . 3 4 ) between fecal starch and fecal pH.
F u r t h e r m o r e , although fecal starch remained
below 10% o f fecal dry m a t t e r at fecal pH
above 6.0, low pH was not associated necessarily
with high c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f fecal starch. It is
still possible that milk p r o d u c t i o n responses in
cows receiving b o t h buffers could be due to
both increased intake and digestibility of the
rations although digestion trials were not
conducted.
There were no significant effects o f t r e a t m e n t
or time on plasma sodium, phosphorus, and
.05) L-lactate (Table 3). A d d i t i o n of MgO did
increase plasma potassium ( P < . 0 1 ) (Table 3),
although reasons for this are not k n o w n . There
were significant effects o f t i m e and t r e a t m e n t
on plasma magnesium and calcium (Table 5).
A d d i t i o n o f dietary magnesium w o u l d be
e x p e c t e d to increase plasma magnesium. Effects
,,o of t i m e on calcium and magnesium could be
interpreted to be f r o m increased intake o f b o t h
minerals. However, the effect of MgO o n p l a s m a
calcium c a n n o t be explained because o f simi-
larity in absorptive mechanisms.
Average daily intakes o f NaHCO3 and MgO
were 310 and 159 g. These a m o u n t s are com-
parable to the largest a m o u n t s in studies o f
milk fat depression. Most studies have r e p o r t e d
that addition of NaHCO3 and MgO alone
a n d / o r in c o m b i n a t i o n had a depressing effect
on intake o f concentrates (6, 7, 19, 23, 24).
E m e r y (4) r e p o r t e d in a review t h a t intakes of
grcatcr than 272 and 136 g pcr head per day of
NaHCO3 and MgO, respectively, did not result
in further i m p r o v e m e n t of milk fat percentage.
In those studies, the dietary buffer was included
in the c o n c e n t r a t e only, and hay and concen-

TABLE 5. Effect of treatment and time postpartum on plasma calcium and magnesium.

Treatment
.8% MgO +
Parameter Week Control 1.5% NaHCO 3 .8% MgO 1.5% NaHCO 3 X SE

Plasma Ca
(mg/lO0 ml) 1 9.3 8.8 10.7 10.4 9.8 .4 M
4 10.6 10.1 11.7 9.9 10.6 d .4

9.9 ab 9.4 a 11.2 b 10.2 ab

SE .6 .6 .6 .6 T

Plasma Mg
(mg/100 ml) 1 2.09 2.35 2.85 2.58 2.47 c .06 M
4 2.46 2.66 3.26 3.03 2.85 d .06

2.28 a 2.51 ab 3.06 b 2.81 ab

SE .16 .16 .16 .16 T

a'bMeans in the same row with different superscripts are different (P<.OI).
C'dMeans in the same column with different superscripts are different (P<.O1).
MMgO treatment effect (P<.01).
TTime effect (P<.01).

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 63, No. 6, 1980

 DIETARY BUFFERS AND METABOLIC PROBLEMS
t r a t e s were fed s e p a r a t e l y .
It is u n c e r t a i n w h e t h e r t h e r e s p o n s e w o u l d
have b e e n similar if alfalfa h a y or even haylage
h a d b e e n used as t h e forage in this e x p e r i m e n t .
B e n e f i t s in i n t a k e f r o m a d d i t i o n o f N a H C O 3
m a y have b e e n f r o m t h e n e u t r a l i z i n g e f f e c t
o n t h e acid in c o r n silage (18). A d d i t i o n o f
2.5% NaHCO3 to ryegrass silage increased
i n t a k e in sheep a n d dairy calves (18). K e l l a w a y
et al. (15) r e p o r t e d increased gains and i n t a k e
in y o u n g d a i r y calves f r o m a d d i t i o n o f up to
5.85% NaHCO3 in c o m p l e t e rations. R e s p o n s e s
in b e e f cattle and s h e e p have b e e n s h o w n w i t h
2% or m o r e NaHCOa o n a d r y basis in s t a r t e r
f e e d l o t r a t i o n s (2, 3, 13). Studies are n e e d e d to
d e t e r m i n e o p t i m a l a m o u n t s of NaHCO3 n e e d e d
to achieve m a x i m a l response. Such t h i n g s as
acidity of t h e feed a n d its energy c o n t e n t n e e d
t o be considered in e v a l u a t i n g o p t i m a l c o n c e n -
t r a t i o n s o f NaHCO3 a n d MgO.
Up to this time, t h e r e c o m m e n d e d use o f the
b u f f e r s in dairy r a t i o n s has b e e n restricted to
i n s t a n c e s of milk fat depression. A d d i t i o n o f
NaHCO3 m a y be o f b e n e f i t w h e r e d a i r y m e n
lack the facilities t o adjust p r o p e r l y t h e i r cows
to t h e milking h e r d r a t i o n prior t o calving.
Cows receiving NaHCO3 p e a k e d earlier in
i n t a k e , whereas cows receiving r a t i o n s w i t h o u t
NaHCO3 m a y n o t have r e a c h e d t h e i r peak at
t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e study. Hopefully, these
d i f f e r e n c e s in i n t a k e w o u l d b e t r a n s l a t e d i n t o
h i g h e r t o t a l milk p r o d u c t i o n over t h e e n t i r e
l a c t a t i o n . T h e NaHCO3 a n d MgO b u f f e r s m a y
be p r o m i s i n g tools for d a i r y m e n t o s t i m u l a t e
b o t h a p p e t i t e and d i g e s t i o n early in l a c t a t i o n .
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research was s u p p o r t e d in part by
C h u r c h a n d D w i g h t Co., Inc.
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