Feedpads for Grazing Dairy Cows by Moran John;McDonald Scott;

Author:Moran, John;McDonald, Scott;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing

Mineral buffers and feed additives

Buffers stabilise rumen pH. The best example of a naturally occurring buffer is sodium bicarbonate supplied by saliva, in response to rumination or cud chewing. Mineral buffers are frequently incorporated into high grain diets to minimise the likelihood of lactic acidosis. Table 7.6 summarises those mineral buffers commonly used in milking cow diets.

Feed additives are another ration ingredient that has gained commercial attention in recent years. Their advertised benefits range from higher milk yields, to increases in milk fat and protein contents, to improved DM intake through a more stable rumen pH leading to improved fibre digestion. As with all feedpad diet ingredients, it is important to seek any relevant information to assist in making a value judgement that their inclusion is a good business decision. In other words, will the cost of their purchase and inclusion be lower or higher than any production benefits, under the existing farm and herd management conditions?

The primary feed additives registered for use in Australian dairy herds are ionophores and antibiotics. Monensin (for example, Rumensin®), Tylosin (Tylan®) and Virginiamycin (Eskalin®) produce their effects by modifying the rumen environment. These are all classified as rumen modifiers that alter the microbial population of the rumen, to change the mix of end-products from microbial fermentation. Other feed additives, such as yeast and yeast metabolites and Betaine, have recently been registered for use with dairy cows.

Table 7.6 Mineral buffers used in high grain diets.

Additive/Buffer

% of diet DM

Feeding rate kg/t of grain

Function

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