Effect of Feeding Buffers to Dairy Cows Fed a High-Concentrate, Low-Roughage Ration

Eight lactath~g cows were grouped and assigned to one of two 4 X 4 Latin squares. Cows were offered concentrates ad libitum and 2 lb of hay daily. The four treatments consisted of an unsupplemented control ration, 1.00 lb XHC03, 0.84 lb NaHCO~, and 0.42 lb MgC03 per day. Addition o any one of the buffers prevented the depression in milk fat test that occurred while the cows were on the control ration (2.92 vs. 3.62%). Cows while on the control ration had an average daily gain in body weight of 2.46 lb per day, greater (P < .01) than the average of 0.04 lb while on the buffered rations.