J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1982. 55:935-942.
© 1982 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Haaland, G. L.
Right arrow Articles by Tyrrell, H. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Haaland, G. L.
Right arrow Articles by Tyrrell, H. F.

Effects of Limestone and Sodium Bicarbonate Buffers on Rumen Measurements and Rate of Passage in Cattle

G. L. Haaland1,2,3, and H. F. Tyrrell1

US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705

Abstract

Eight rumen-fistulated cattle (four Angus steers and four nonlactating Holstein cows) were fed a cracked corn-based concentrate (65% of dry matter) and corn silage (35% of dry matter) diet containing: (1) no buffer, (2) 2.5% limestone, (3) 2% sodium bicarbonate (NaHC03) or (4) 1.25% limestone and 1.25% NaHCCO3, Each diet was fed at approximately maintenance and two times maintenance levels of intake, resulting in eight treatments in a Latin square design. Buffer treatments had no effect (P>.10) on rumen fluid pH, rumen ammonia N concentration, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration or rumen buffering capacity between pH 7.0 and 5.5. Rate of disappearance of solid and liquid fractions from the rumen was measured using Cr-labeled dietary fiber and Co-EDTA, respectively. Rate of disappearance was not significantly affected by treatments, although liquid disappearance rate Was 7% faster with buffer treatments than with the control. Fecal pH was increased (P<.01) approximately .5 units by all buffer treatments. Increasing intake to two times maintenance resulted in lower rumen pH (6.03 vs 6.37), increased total VFA concentration (115 vs 99 mmol/liter), increased rate of liquid disappearance from the rumen (6.6 vs 5.8%/h) and decreased concentration of Cr in the dry matter fraction of the rumen contents (all P<.01)

Footnotes

1 Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory, Animal Science Institute, ARS, S&E, Beltsville, MD 20705.

2 The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of R. L. Brocht, R. Spencer, F. E. Sweeney and K. DeCesaris for animal care; E. L. Yoder and T. B. Jacobs, Jr. for sampling and chemical analyses and P. C. Marcus for data handling.

3 Dr. Haaland passed away suddenly on March 29, 1982.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1982 by the American Society of Animal Science.