Who we are

Bicar®Z and You, a relationship based on trust

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.

What is sodium bicarbonate used for in feed?

The high buffering capacity and sodium intake of Bicar®Z are demonstrated at all levels and for several properties. It’s easy to use, and can safely be given to ruminants, pigs, poultry and shrimps alike. Bicar®Z helps to prevent acidosis and considerably increases livestock productivity by allowing, amongst others, cows to produce up to 3,6 L more milk every day.

From our manufacturing plants to your animals, the purity of the product is guaranteed. The Solvay group is a world leader in chemistry. As one of its key brands, Bicar®Z moves through short supply chains, with a minimum number of intermediaries and complete product traceability.

So you always know what you’re giving to your animals.

For better livestock breeding, trust Bicar®Z every day 

Knowing the causes of acidosis is important

Today, more than ever, the farm must be run like a business. The market has changed: competition has increased, production is intensifying and new environmental and health regulations are constantly being introduced.

In order to keep up with the news, it is necessary to keep up to date and prevent risk situations.

• As many studies and research show, acidosis is one of the most common diseases in intensive livestock farming. For example, the feed of dairy cows contains a large amount of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates, which are needed to provide a lot of energy, to the detriment of fibre. But when the animal ingests such concentrated feeds, rumination and salivation are not stimulated sufficiently, preventing the cow from naturally restoring a normal ruminal pH and increasing the risk of acidosis.
• Another common source of heat stress in animals is high temperature. Heat stress occurs when the animal produces or receives more heat than it dissipates. When the outside temperature exceeds 20° C or the THI exceeds 68°, high-producing pigs, cows and chickens become stressed, resulting in poorer welfare and reduced productivity. The risk increases when the air is very humid.

The role of sodium bicarbonate for animal feed

Used as a feed supplement for dairy cows, the buffering capacity of sodium bicarbonate feed helps stabilise pH by reducing acidic conditions. 

Sodium bicarbonate feed is also fed as a partial replacement for salt in poultry rations. Broiler breeders find sodium bicarbonate an alternative source of sodium that contributes to litter control, making it drier and creating a healthier living environment.

Sodium bicarbonate supplement also has important uses in aquaculture, where it is added periodically to replenish alkalinity. Without the addition of sodium bicarbonate, the pH of the system eventually drops to lethal levels.

Understanding sodium bicarbonate effects

Sodium bicarbonate supplement provides an optimal acid-base balance

Basically, the organism is able to regulate the pH on its own

The metabolism of domestic animals is optimal in blood pH ranges between 7.3 and 7.5. 

For ruminants, the optimal rumen pH is between 6.0 and 6.4. 

Under normal conditions, the body is able to regulate pH with natural systems, for example by using bicarbonate already present in the body. 

But this is not enough when the ration is too rich

In order to increase the zootechnical performance of the animals, breeders stimulate the production capacity of their livestock with rations that are rich in energy and quickly fermentable.

The latter can cause metabolic and ruminal acidosis, which results in reduced performance and a number of health risks such as lameness, infertility or reduced immunity.  In addition, heat stress causes and aggravates ruminal acidosis and other health problems, resulting in a "vicious circle".

Sodium bicarbonate has a maximum buffering capacity of 6.33

Which is the optimum pH of a cow's rumen. This allows us to understand the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate supplement to regulate the pH and prevent ruminal acidosis. Sodium bicarbonate is also the main blood buffer and is commonly used in infusion and dialysis to compensate for metabolic acidosis.

Why do we talk about buffering capacity?

Buffering capacity is the ability of a compound to stabilize the pH by counteracting even small changes in pH. It can be compared to a sponge that absorbs and neutralizes acidic compounds. When this compound is added to a food ration, it will thus temper its acidifying action and thus stabilize the pH at ideal levels.

A source of pure sodium without chloride or sulphur

Sodium plays an important role in animal physiology

Like bicarbonate, sodium maintains an appropriate acid-base balance even when animals are fed with acidifying rations. It is also necessary for neurotransmission and the transfer of sugars and nutrients to cells.

Bicarbonate helps to ensure the balance of DCAB and EB

To check that the acid-base balance of your animals' feed is correct, you can calculate the DCAB (Dietary Cation-Anion Balance) for your ruminants, or the EB (Electrolytic Balance) for swine and poultry, which is the mineral analysis of the ration (sodium, potassium, chloride and sulphur for the DCAB). As bicarbonate is a source of sodium, it helps to restore this balance.