Controlled ruminal infusion of sodium bicarbonate. 1. Influence of postfeeding infusion interval on ruminal milieu

Four ruminally cannulated, lactating Holstein cows were assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square to monitor the effects of intraruminal NaHCO3 infusion on changes in the rumen environment. Sodium bicarbonate (110 g), dissolved in 3.8 L of water, was infused twice daily at a constant rate for 2 h starting at 0, 2, or 4 h postfeeding. All cows had access to their diet containing sorghum silage and concentrate in a 35:65 ration (DM basis) for 45 min twice daily. Ruminal fluid was collected at feeding and every 30 min postfeeding for 12 h on the last day of each 7-d period. Dry matter intake was lower for buffer infusion at 2 to 4 h than for water-infused control but was not affected by the other NaHCO3 infusions. Although total milk yield was not affected, milk fat percentage and fat yield tended to be lower for the NaHCO3 treatments. Compared with the water infusion, the NaHCO3 infusion from 2 to 4 h postfeeding most effectively prevented the postfeeding increase in ruminal free proton concentration. Additionally, volume of ruminal liquid was increased for the NaHCO3 infusions from 0 to 2 h and 4 to 6 h; ruminal liquid turnover time was increased for the NaHCO3 infusion at 4 to 6 h, but ruminal kinetics otherwise were not affected by NaHCO3. Although infusion of NaHCO3 from 2 to 4 h prevented severe alterations in ruminal acid-base status, it did not increase total VFA concentration or the acetate:propionate ratio. Although total VFA concentrations were not affected by NaHCO3 infusion, acetate:propionate ratio was higher for the NaHCO3 infusion from 0 to 2 h than for the control. Based upon alterations in ruminal acid-base status, exogenous buffer ideally should be provided to the rumen from 2 to 4 h postfeeding; however, our results indicate that the effectiveness of this regimen might be improved if buffer is combined with a rapidly released or unprotected dietary buffer.