**4.5 Buffers**

Dietary changes like shift from hay to silage, feeding high level of grains/concentrate mixture cause increased acidity in rumen which may become detrimental for rumen microorganisms thereby affecting not only digestion but production and reproduction too. Buffers like Sodium bicarbonate, Magnesium oxide neutralize the acids produced by metabolism or fermentation. They are particularly required during hot weather when forage intake is lower and due to less chewing action natural buffer produced i.e. saliva is produced less.
