A3436

Dietary Buffers for Dairy Cattle

By R.D. Shaver, L.E. Armentano and J.W. Crowley

Used properly, buffers can help prevent decreases in
milk production and fat test, and may improve ration
adaptation. This bulletin shows when and how buf-
fers may be profitable in your feeding program.
Several feeding changes can create a need for buffers:
1) feeding high levels of grain to meet the energy
demands of high-producing cows
2) shifting from long hay to chopped ensiled forages,
especially corn silage
3) finer chopping of ensiled forages to aid
mechanization
4) feeding more acidic feedstuffs such as corn and
hay silages and ensiled high-moisture corn.
How you add the buffer (total mixed rations [TMR],
total grain mix, protein supplement, or top-dress)
affects the amount of buffer you should use.
Consider these factors when adding buffers:
1) chemical composition of the buffer
2) forage-to-grain ratio
3) fiber content of the total ration
4) forage particle length
5) ration acidity
6) temperature
7) feeding system (TMR, feeding frequency)
8) cost and level of supplementation
Rapidly fermenting grains and acidic feeds increase
acidity in the digestive tract, while reduced chewing
and rumination time decrease salivation (saliva is a
natural buffer). These acidic conditions can impair
animal performance in three ways:
An acidic rumen results in a lowered acetate: pro-
pionate ratio, which in turn lowers milkfat pro-
duction.
Fiber digestion is lower in an acidic rumen.
Excess rumen acidity can reduce feed intake and
rumen motility and increase the possibility of a
cow going off feed.
When deciding whether to add a dietary buffer,
youll need to consider the above factors, alone and
in combination.
Buffer Action
Buffers resist a change in acidity (pH). They neutral-
ize acids that are fed, produced by fermentation and
metabolism, or secreted during digestion.
The term "buffer" is used loosely in feeding sugges-
tions. True buffers prevent increased acidity (lowered
pH) but do not raise pH above a certain level. Bicar-
bonate (NaHCO 3), sesquicarbonate
(Na2CO3NaHCO 3 2H 2O), limestone (CaCO 3), and
bentonite are true buffers.
Alkalizers neutralize acidity but can also cause a
large pH increase. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is an
alkalizer, not a true buffer. The various compounds
marketed as "buffers" work differently in the
digestive system. Since lactating dairy cows rarely
have problems with too-high rumen pH, we've
grouped the true buffers and alkalizers.
Table 1 lists the mode and site of action for the most
widely used compounds.

Table 1. Mode and site of action

Bicarbonate 1 Magnesium
2 3 4 5
Site Measurement Sesquicarb. Limestone oxide Bentonite
Rumen pH + 0 + +
turnover + 0 ?0 +
A:P Ratio + 0 + +
fiber digestion + ?0 + ?+
starch digestion ?+ ?0 ?+ ?+

Intestines fecal pH 0 + + ?0
starch digestion 0 + + ?0
fiber digestion ?0 ?0 ?0 ?0

Udder acetate uptake ?0 ?0 + ?+

Adapted from Chalupa and Kronfeld, University of Pennsylvania, 1983.

0 = no effect; + = increase; ?0 = no data, probably no effect; ?+ = no data but possible effect.
1
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), or baking soda.
2
Sesquicarbonate (Na2CO3 NaHCO3 2H2 O); also called trona, Bupherd (TM), Scarb (TM), Alkaten (TM).
3
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
4
MgO.
5
Aluminum silica.
Magnesium oxide, bicarbonate and sesquicarbonate
are the best rumen buffers. Each of these feed
additives increases the acetate: propionate (A:P) ratio
and aids fiber digestion by preventing low rumen
pH. Sesquicarbonate is chemically similar to bicar-
bonate, and has similar effects on animal perfor-
mance. Use price and product quality as your main
guidelines when choosing between bicarbonate and
sesquicarbonate.
Buffers are particularly useful in hot weather, since
the heat and humidity can reduce forage intake and
therefore depress chewing activity and natural buffer
production from saliva.
You may want to substitute potassium carbonate or
potassium bicarbonate for sodium bicarbonate dur-
ing hot weather. The potassium replaces potassium
lost when the animals sweat; otherwise the ruminal
effects are the same. You can also use other potas-
sium sources during hot weather, but using potas-
sium buffers allows you to use less total minerals in
the diet (compared to using sodium-based buffers
plus a separate potassium supplement).
Alfalfa is naturally rich in potassium, so alfalfa-based
diets generally do not require extra potassium sup-
plementation during hot weather. On the other
hand, corn silage and brewers grains are low in
potassium.
Bentonite, a clay with low rumen volubility, takes a
long time to break down and function in the rumen.
Pelleted feeds often contain bentonite, because it
prevents crumbling during shipping and handling.
Limestone does not react well above pH 5.5, and thus
does not act as a rumen buffer.
Limestone and magnesium oxide increase starch
digestion in the intestines of animals fed very high
grain diets. They increase pH in the small intestines,
which may allow starch-digesting enzymes to do
more work. This effect may not be very important in
most dairy rations. However, limestone is an eco-
nomical source of calcium, which may be needed in
Table 2. Effect of grain level and forage physical form on chewing activity, saliva production and fat test
University of Wisconsin-Madison data.
1
Acetate:Propionate ratio.
2
Alfalfa haylage and chopped hay mixture, 1/8 inch to 1/5 inch
(.31 to .51 cm) mean particle length.
3
Alfalfa hay.
high-grain corn silage diets that are usually sup-
plemented with buffers. You can consider any effect
on starch digestion a bonus.
Fat-Test Depression
Dietary fiber stimulates cud chewing, which pro-
motes salivation. Saliva contains sodium and
potassium bicarbonate, which are natural buffers
that stabilize rumen pH. When fed enough long for-
age, cows maintain rumen pH between 6.0 and 6.5,
despite producing large quantities of volatile fatty
acids (primarily acetic, propionic and butyric) during
microbial digestion. This is the optimal pH range for
fiber digestion and for creating the proper A:P ratio
for milkfat production.
Level of grain feeding and forage particle length
affect chewing activity, which affects saliva produc-
tion, A:P ratio, and fat test (see Table 2). High grain
feeding reduces rumen pH below 6.0, decreasing the
proportion of acetate and increasing propionate. This
also may happen when you feed diets without long
hay, or finely chopped silages, or finely ground and
pelleted feed stuffs.
Normally, the A:P ratio is 3.0 or more; an A:P ratio of
2.2 or less will depress fat test. This occurs when
total chewing activity falls below 10 to 13 minutes per
pound of dry-matter intake, or about 10 hours per
day.
The lower the fat test, the greater the response to
buffers. One series of experiments showed an 11%
increase in fat test when buffers were added. How-
ever, the range was 0 to 27%. Response was greatest
when the total ration was 40% corn silage and 60%
grain (dry-matter basis).
Balancing the ration for acid detergent fiber (ADF),
reducing grain level, feeding long hay or combining
coarsely chopped haylage with corn silage reduced
the amount of fat-test depression and thus the
response to buffers.
Tables 3, 4 and 5 show the average fat-test response
to bicarbonate and sesquicarbonate. The diets
presented in Tables 3 and 4 were high in corn silage
and grain and low in alfalfa.
In general, youll get better milkfat test response by
combining magnesium oxide with bicarbonate or
sesquicarbonate than by feeding magnesium oxide
or bicarbonate alone. In alfalfa-based diets, buffers
produced a much smaller response (Table 5).
Rumenmate (TM) is a new buffer which combines
magnesium, potassium, and sodium carbonate.
Research results from University of Wisconsin-
Madison, Florida, and Michigan have shown
increases in milkfat test when fed at 3% of the TMR.
When fed at 1% of the TMR this buffer is probably
no more effective than the bicarbonate/magnesium
oxide combination. This new buffer is not available
commercially in Wisconsin as of Oct. 1988.
Table 3. Bicarbonate versus sesquicarbonate*
Early lactation
After calving, many dairy farmers switch their cows
from high-forage, low-energy diets to high-grain,
high-energy diets. This change from high to low fiber
may occur too rapidly for rumen microbes to adapt.
Off-feed, acidosis, and displaced abomasum prob-
lems can result. Buffers may lessen these problems
and help cows in early lactation more than those in
later lactation.
Buffers improved ration adaptation in two university
studies. Cows fed a high-hay ration before calving
were abruptly switched to a high-energy ration with
corn silage as the sole forage for 10 weeks after calv-
ing. Buffers improved intake and milk production. In
one study buffers reduced days off-feed. A 149-cow
study showed increased intake with 0.8% bicarbonate
in the total ration. Response was greatest in early lac-
tation. Cows ate and produced slightly more when
fed 1.5% bicarbonate in the grain. A combination of
bicarbonate and magnesium oxide gave the best
response.

Bicarb Sesquicarb Feeding Recommendations

DM Intake (Ibs) + 2.05 +1.08 Diets with alfalfa hay or haylage as the sole forage
Milk (Ibs) +1.72 + 0.24 probably dont need buffers, unless high grain
Fat % +0.10 +0.14 feeding depresses fat test, off-feed problems occur,
4% FCM + 1.80 +1.08 or finely chopped haylage is fed. Alfalfa, with a
higher natural buffering capacity and higher fiber
L.C. Solorzano and L.E. Armentano, University of Wisconsin, 1988.
level than corn silage, reduces the problem of ration
*On high-grain diets with corn silage as the primary forage.
adaptation.
Highly acidic feedstuffs, including high-moisture
Table 4. Effects of bicarbonate and sesquicarbonate on corn and corn silage, increase the animals acid load
milk yield, fat test and intake* and may decrease intake. Recent studies showed that
growing heifers and early lactation cows ate more
Control Bicarb Sesquicarb corn silage when it was treated with bicarbonate just
prior to feeding to increase pH.
Milk yield (lbs/day) 77.2 75.2 77.9
Fat % 2.82 2.92 2.89 Where practical, add buffers to the silage or total
Dry matter intake mixed ration just prior to feeding to neutralize
(Ibs/day) 47 48.4 49.9 feedstuff acids that can reduce palatability.
Energy intake
Table 6 lists recommended levels of buffer addition.
(lbs/day)1 31.5 35.2 34.1
For best response, add bicarbonate and magnesium
L.C. Solorzano and L.E. Armentano, University of Wisconsin, 1988. oxide in a 3:1 ratio. Excessive levels (3 to 5%) of buf-
*On high-grain diets with corn silage as the primary forage. fers can make the grain mix less palatable. This
should not happen if you follow the recommenda-
tions in Table 6.

Table 5. Effects of feeding sodium bicarbonate in Table 6. Feeding recommendations

alfalfa hay or haylage-based rations* % Grain % of Total
DM Intake (Ibs) + .70 Buffer Mixture Ration lbs/day
Milk (Ibs) -.29
Fat % + .02 Bicarb 1.0-1.5 .6-.8 .25-.5
4% FCM (Ibs) -.18 MgO .4-0.8 .2-.4 .10-.2
Bicarb + MgO (3:1) 1.0-1.5 .6-.8 .25-.5
Solorzano and L.E. Armentano, University of Wisconsin, 1988. Bentonite 3.0-5.0 1.5-2.5 1.50-2.2
*Average response in 18 trials. Limestone 1.0-1.5 .5- .8 .25- .4
Where rapid feed intake is important, such as parlor
feeding, use the lower recommended levels. Buffers
are most likely to increase feed intake when added
to silage or the total ration. When top-dressing, do
not exceed .25 lb/day, as cows may refuse higher
levels of bicarbonate. Cows will absorb the minerals
in buffers, so be sure that levels of sodium, mag-
nesium and calcium in the diet do not greatly
exceed mineral requirements. Urine and blood tests
show that long-term feeding at recommended levels
should have no harmful effects.
Buffers wont replace good management, but good
management may help you avoid the need for buf-
fers. Harvesting and feeding high-quality low-fiber
forage reduces the level of grain required for optimal
animal performance. Even changes in grain feeding
can help avoid the need for buffers. More frequent
feedings produce more stable rumen fermentation
and fewer ups and downs in fat test. Including some
fibrous concentrates, such as corn gluten feed,
brewers grains, or ear corn in place of shelled corn;
or feeding wheat middlings, soy hulls, or whole cot-
tonseed, can also help.
Buffering is most likely to help when:
G rain-exceeds 50% of ration dry matter.
No long hay is fed.
Haylage is finely chopped.
Acid-producing, high-starch feedstuffs are fed.
Corn silage makes up more than 50% of forage dry
matter.
Total ration is low in fiber (e.g. shelled corn versus
ear corn or byproduct grains).
Rapid changes are made in the ration.
Examine the economics of feeding buffers. If buffers
raise fat test from 3.0% to 3.1% or 3.5% to 3.6%, the
return on the milk check just about covers the cost
of the buffer. Estimate your own cost and return. If
the increased fat test pays for the buffer, then other
benefits of buffer feeding, such as increased digesti-
bility (more energy from each pound of feed) and
more stable feed intake, could make feeding buffers
worthwhile.
Do not feed buffers to late-lactation cows or cows
getting high-forage diets. Generally the response on
alfalfa-hay based diets is not worth the cost.

If you feed haylage as the sole forage, chop at 5/16- to

3/8-inch theoretical length of cut (TLC), with 15% of
the particles (weight basis) longer than 1.5 inches.
Haylage chopped more finely than this should be
fed with 5 to 7 pounds of long hay.

Author(s): R. D. Shaver is assistant professor, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-

Madison and University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension. L. E. Armentano is assistant
professor, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison. J. W. Crowley is emeritus
professor, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-
Extension, Cooperative Extension.

Thanks to L.C. Solorzan foro his help in summarizing data from many research trials.
Produced by Cooperative Extension Publications.

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