In today's livestock and poultry farming, the use of feed additives is becoming increasingly widespread. Farmers are keen to scientifically select and use feed additives to improve farming efficiency. This article introduces a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and highly effective feed additive—baking soda. Abroad, baking soda is already used as an animal feed additive (buffer) in the farming of cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and other livestock and poultry.

1. Introduction to Baking Soda as a Feed Additive

Baking soda, chemically known as sodium bicarbonate, is a white crystalline powder that dissolves in water and is weakly alkaline. When ingested, it can neutralize stomach acid and dissolve mucus. Adding an appropriate amount of baking soda to livestock and poultry feed can effectively improve the animals' digestion rate of the feed, accelerate the absorption and utilization of nutrients, and promote the excretion of harmful substances. It also plays a positive role in enhancing the animals' stress resistance and promoting growth.

1.1 Application of Baking Soda in Poultry Farming

In broiler and laying hen production, where large-scale farming is common, farmers aim to increase farming efficiency while reducing disease incidence and improving carcass quality. Adding 0.7% sodium bicarbonate to the diet of broilers over two weeks old can increase their weight by 5%–6%. For laying hens, adding 0.5%–0.8% sodium bicarbonate to their diet can significantly increase egg production and egg weight. Adding 0.1%–0.5% baking soda to the feed can significantly improve carcass quality and weight gain, as well as enhance the chickens' ability to resist heat stress, regulate acid-base balance, and increase eggshell strength and egg production rate. Replacing part of the salt with baking soda can reduce water intake in broilers, improving the hygiene quality of the litter and reducing the incidence of toe abnormalities and pleurisy.

1.2 Application of Baking Soda in Pig Farming

In pig farming, various growth stages present different challenges, such as survival rates and feed utilization efficiency. Adding baking soda to their diet can have certain benefits. Adding 3–4 g of baking soda per pig per day in the diet of fattening pigs can improve feed utilization. Feeding sows with 4–5 g of baking soda per day 15 days before farrowing and during lactation can increase milk production. Adding 0.2 g of baking soda per piglet per day to their mixed feed can compensate for lysine deficiency, enhance the alkalinity of the diet, and promote growth and weight gain, increasing palatability. During hot seasons, adding 250 mg of baking soda per kilogram of feed can effectively alleviate the adverse effects of heat stress on pigs and prevent piglet diarrhea, increasing the survival rate of piglets by more than 10%.

1.3 Application of Baking Soda in Cattle and Sheep Farming

Cattle and sheep farming is an important income-generating activity for farmers, who are increasingly focusing on scientifically raising these animals. The extensive application of new farming techniques has brought better results to cattle and sheep farming. Cattle and sheep have a unique way of digesting and absorbing nutrients, and in the autumn and winter months, when green feed is scarce, silage is an excellent alternative. Known as "canned grass," silage is juicy, palatable, aromatic, highly digestible, and nutrient-rich, making it a superior feed for cattle, sheep, and other livestock. Many plants, such as corn and alfalfa, are ideal silage materials, and the silage process is simple and cost-effective. As long as the silage material is brought in quickly, with the right moisture content, chopped finely, mixed with silage fermenting bacteria, and sealed tightly, no significant investment is required. Adding an appropriate amount of baking soda during feeding helps cattle and sheep better absorb and digest their food. Baking soda, being weakly alkaline, acts as a buffer in the rumen of ruminants, neutralizing the acidity of silage and the organic acids produced by stomach microbes, maintaining a neutral pH (pH = 7) in the rumen, which provides an optimal environment for microbes. This balance of microbial populations enhances the digestion of various foods, significantly improving cattle and sheep appetite and feed intake. Especially in cattle feed, adding an appropriate amount of baking soda can increase appetite, prevent miscarriages, promote growth, and reduce disease incidence, thereby strengthening their constitution and increasing appetite.

Usage Method: Take advantage of baking soda's water-solubility by thoroughly mixing an appropriate amount into concentrate feed, then mixing it with roughage before feeding. There is no unified standard for the dosage of baking soda; according to relevant materials and production practices, adding 3% baking soda to calf feed can effectively increase feed intake and promote growth. Adding 0.50%–2.25% baking soda to beef cattle concentrate feed daily can significantly increase weight gain. Adding 100–150 g of baking soda per dairy cow per day can effectively improve milk production performance. The effects of adding baking soda are even more pronounced for cattle and sheep fed a silage-based diet.

2. Precautions for Using Baking Soda

When first introducing baking soda into the diet, livestock and poultry may show signs of anorexia. Start with a small amount and gradually increase it; it takes about 5–10 days for the animals to adapt. Baking soda is alkaline and should not be used simultaneously with VB1, VB2, VC, folic acid, antibiotic drugs, or organic acids to avoid compromising their effectiveness. The dosage should be carefully monitored to prevent alkaline toxicity, and the amount of salt in the diet should be reduced accordingly to prevent excessive sodium intake. When using trichlorfon to deworm livestock, avoid feeding them baking soda or other alkaline substances, as this can cause toxicity.

3. Other Functions of Baking Soda

Besides being a feed additive, baking soda has two other uses:

3.1 Disinfectant: Spraying a 10% baking soda solution in livestock pens and surrounding areas provides effective disinfection.

3.2 Feed Preparation: For hard straw feeds, alkalizing them with a baking soda solution makes them easier to digest and improves palatability.