Sodium Bentonite and Sodium Bicarbonate in High-Concentrate Beef Cattle Diets

Sodium bentonite and sodium bicarbonate alter conditions in the rumen and may offer animals protection from some of the harmful effects of rumen acidosis. The potential benefits that may be derived from use of these materials have become increasingly important as backgrounding periods are extended and finishing periods are shortened. The experiment reported herein were designed to investigate the effectiveness of these materials, individually or in combination, in the adaptation of beef cattle to high-concentrate diets