Sodium bicarbonate is a mineral that is also known as bicarbonate of soda.

The most important use of sodium bicarbonate in dairy cows is as a buffer, i.e. it neutralises acids in the rumen.

A well-functioning cow produces its own source of sodium bicarbonate through the saliva in the amount of up to 2 kg daily. This volume is insufficient for structurally deficient feed rations with short chewing time, so an extra supplement of sodium bicarbonate is often worth it in these situations.