Use our calculators to find the right BicarⓇZ dosage for an optimal acid-base balance of your animals
Dietary Cation-Anion Balance
The dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB) is an indicator of the effect of a feed or diet on the animal's acid-base homeostasis. Feeds rich in alkaline elements (especially K) tend to raise metabolic alkalosis. One of the biochemical parameters of metabolic alkalinization is a urine pH value above 8.
A negative DCAB causes metabolic acidosis. This is characterized in particular by a urine pH value below 7.5. Metabolic acidosis is a pathological condition that induces, among other things, decreased ingestion and significant urinary calcium loss.
To achieve a good balance, it is important to calculate the Dietary Cation-Anion Balance of the feed ration, the milliequivalents of positively charged cations (sodium and potassium) must be deducted from the negatively charged anions (sulfur and chlorine).
By introducing the proper dosage of BicarⓇZ in the diet of your animals you can reach an optimal acid-base balance and prevent any pathologic conditions.
Electrolyte Balance
Just like humans, animals use minerals (such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium) to regulate the physicochemical parameters of their organism, in particular the acid-base balance. The balance between positively and negatively charged ions is essential. If there is an imbalance, animals can face several problems.
By calculating the Electrolyte Balance of the feed (sodium, potassium, and chloride), it is possible to see whether the ration aligns with the ideal values. A ration whose Electrolyte Balance is too low can be effectively corrected by adding Bicar®Z.
The daily dosages of Bicar®Z must be adapted to the physiological needs of the animals, according to their stage of development and climatic conditions.
Risk of Acidosis
Rumen acidosis is a disease caused by a metabolic-nutritional disorder mainly due to excessive carbohydrate consumption in cattle. With a diet rich in carbohydrates and concentrates, the metabolic-fermentative activity of the bacteria is combined with reduced chewing and consequent salivary secretion, reducing the endogenous buffering action and altering the maintenance of a correct pH level.
In this situation, there is a risk of an excessive increase in propionic acid production and subsequent production of lactic acid, with a lowering of the ruminal pH that can lead to clinical acidosis.
Metabolic acidosis risk factors during summer
Heat stress is the consequence of the animal's adaptation to an environmental condition that causes an increase in body temperature. Heat stress is most likely to occur when the animals are poorly acclimatized, such as during the first spring or summer heatwaves, or after moving from a cooler area of the farm to a warmer one, or when the increase in temperature is combined with a high percentage of humidity.
Under normal conditions, cattle are able to maintain a constant body temperature, but when the balance is altered, they are exposed to various effects:
- decreased feed intake.
- reduced daily milk production
- change in milk quality (fat, protein, etc.).
- worsening of reproductive performance.
Using the acidosis calculator it is possible to measure the integration of Bicar®Z in the daily ration to supply the animal with two essential nutrients: sodium to maintain an adequate electrolyte balance and bicarbonate to stabilize rumen pH.
With 40 years of research and experimentations in feed materials, Bicar®Z continues to be the trusted solution for livestock farmers, zootechnical nutritionists and vets around the world.
Created in collaboration with the Institute of Food and Nutrition Sciences - Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacro Cuore of Piacenza, the acidosis calculator will help you determine the right amount of sodium bicarbonate to add into your ration.
This is a model for calculating the recommended and necessary amount of buffer (sodium bicarbonate) as a function of the adopted rationing parameters. The calculation is based on equations and algorithms derived from specialized bibliography and can therefore be considered a useful tool to monitor the risk of acidosis in order to be able to better manage it, also thanks to the integration of buffer substances. The values entered are standard for Italian food.
The obtained results are based on equations and algorithms taken from the specialized bibliography; It can therefore be considered as a useful tool to calculate the appropriate Bicar®Z dosage for your ration, for the sole purpose of providing a rough indication and without wanting in any way to replace and / or integrate the opinion of the veterinarian.
