Effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on ruminal microbial populations and metabolism in buffalo calves

Abstract

The effect of NaHCO3, inclusion in the diet of buffalo calves on rumen microbial populations and fermentation pattern was examined. A control group was fed a diet having 7.3% digestible crude protein, while the treatment group had the same diet plus 30 g NaHCO3, NaHCO3, supplementation in the diet increased the pH by 0.09 units over the control, in rumen fluid (RF) collected between 2 and 12 hr after feeding. Total bacteria, total viable bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, amylolytic bacteria and protozoa increased by 23.8, 19.6, 24.5, 2.18 and 7.58%, respectively, with NaHCO3, supplementation. The concentration of lactate in RF particularly at 2 hr post feeding (p<0.05) was lower while that of total YFA particularly at 4 hr post feeding (P<0.05) was higher in treatment compared with the control group. On NaHCO3, supplementation, the concentration of NH3-N in RF decreased while that of TCA-precipitable protein in- creased.