Effects of supplemental dietary sodium bicarbonate on performance of lactating Holstein cows during the summer season in Brazil

Abstract Our objective was to evaluate the effect of dietary cation–anion difference (DCAD) on DMI, milk production, and DMI:milk production ratio (feed efficiency) in cows after peak lactation. Eight multiparous lactating Holstein cows were allotted to a 4×4 replicated Latin square, for 72 days during the summer season. Four diets with different sodium bicarbonate concentrations were formulated to have +150, +250, +400, and +500 meq/kg (DM-basis) DCAD levels. The measured DCAD values were +155, + 289, +410, and +491 meq/kg, respectively. Increasing DCAD resulted in greater ( P