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Trona and Sodium Bicarbonate in Beef Cattle Diets: Effects on pH and Volatile Fatty Acid Concentrations¹

Texas A&M University, College Station 77843

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of NaHCO₃ and trona in beef cattle diets. Trace element (n=28) analysis revealed no toxicological or safety concerns with the use of trona. Trona was more (P<.05) soluble in ruminal fluid than Na₂CO₃, and NaHCO₃ and had greater (P<.05) buffering capacity (9.6 meq/g) than NaHCO₃ (6.1 meq/g) but less (P<.05) than Na₂CO₃ (11.1 meq/g). Calcium carbonate was insoluble and did not buffer ruminal fluid. Six yearling (avg 272 kg) Hereford x Angus steers, each with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas, were fed 50:50 (cracked corn-based concentrate:cottonseed hulls) or 90:10 concentrate diets with no buffer, 1% NaHCO3 or with 1% trona. Intake, across all treatments, averaged 2.4% of body weight. Propionate (mmol/liter) increased (17.6 vs 13.5; P<.05) and butyrate decreased (3.5 vs 5.2; P<.05) with trona in the 90:10 diet as compared with no buffer. Propionate (16.8) increased (P<.05) with NaHCO₃ in the 90:10 diet. Average ruminal pH was greater (P<.05) in 90:10 diets with trona or NaHCO₃ than with no buffer (5.61, 5.61 vs 5.55); duodenal pH was greater (P<.01) with trona than with no buffer (2.66 vs 2.55). Trona reduced ruminal pH-hours (P<.05) and pH-area (P<.12; time and area below mean pH of control) below control for both concentrate levels. While both NaHCO₃ and trona improved volatile fatty acid patterns, trona was more effective than NaHCO₃ in modifying acid-base balance, thus providing a more stable ruminal environment by minimizing very low pH conditions.

¹ Texas Agr. Exp. Sta. journal article no. TA-21343. This study was supported in part by Tenneco Minerals Co., Houston, TX 77068.

² Present address: Texas Grain and Feed Assoc, Ft. Worth, TX.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

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