Three lactating Chinese Holstein cows with permanent rumen fistula were used.Theexperimental design was a 3×3 Latin square,in which the three treatments were:1).basal(50% concentrate:50% corn silage on a dry matter basis)(control);2).basal+1.5% sodiumbicarbonate+0.8% magnesium oxide(SBM);3).basal+sodium acetate(SA)(300g/day).SBM increased(P<0.05)rumen fluid pH(6.95±0.08 vs 6.78±0.05),but SA had no effecton it.Either SA or SBM increased the molar percentage of rumen acetate and decreasedthat of propionate an...