Comparison of the impact of different anionic salts on the acid–base status and calcium metabolism in non-lactating, non-pregnant dairy cows

Eleven mature, non-lactating, non-pregnant, Holstein–Friesian crossbred cows were given, via a ruminal cannula, 2000 mEq of one of three chloride salts, four sulfate salts, two combinations of anionic salts (AS), sodium chloride (as neutral salt), or water as control. The salts and controls were assigned in an 11 × 11 Latin square and the cows were randomly distributed. All of the AS induced a metabolic acidosis that resulted in a small reduction of blood pH, base excess, and bicarbonate ( P < 0.001), and notable changes in urinary pH, net acid base excretion ( P < 0.001), and urinary calcium excretion ( P < 0.001). Only calcium chloride had a significantly greater impact on acid–base status (ABS) than the sulfate salts. The effect of other chloride salts did not differ from calcium sulfate. There was no indication that chloride salts in general have a greater impact than sulfate salts on the ABS.