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The Role of Sodium Bicarbonate in Feed Additives

Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is an efficient and safe buffering agent, pH regulator, and electrolyte supplement in feed. Its core functions are to improve digestion, alleviate stress, enhance production performance, and protect health. I. Core Functions and Mechanisms Regulating Digestive Tract pH and Improving Digestion Neutralizes gastric acid and protects the stomach: Its mild alkalinity neutralizes excess gastric acid, reducing irritation to the gastric mucosa and protecting gastrointestinal health. Stabilizes rumen pH (in ruminants): High-concentrate or silage-based diets can cause a sharp drop in rumen acidity. Adding sodium bicarbonate stabilizes pH in the range of 6.2–6.8, protecting fiber-degrading bacteria and increasing crude fiber digestibility by over 10%. Promotes digestion and increases feed intake: Stimulates digestive fluid secretion, enhances gastrointestinal motility, and improves feed digestibility and intake. Alkalinizes urine and protects kidneys: Reduces the risk of urate or drug crystal deposition, especially when using sulfonamide drugs, thereby protecting the kidneys. Alleviating Heat Stress and Regulating Acid-Base Balance Provides rapid buffering during high temperatures: Heat-induced panting leads to CO₂ loss and decreased blood alkalinity. Supplementing bicarbonate quickly stabilizes pH and alleviates heat stress. Assists in heat dissipation: The decomposition of bicarbonate produces CO₂, which is expelled through respiration, removing heat and lowering core body temperature. Prevents metabolic acidosis: Neutralizes acidic metabolites in the body, maintaining internal environment homeostasis. Supplementing Electrolytes and Optimizing Mineral Metabolism Provides a safe source of sodium: Supplies high-quality sodium to maintain osmotic pressure, nerve and muscle function, while avoiding excessive chloride ions. Promotes calcium and phosphorus absorption: Increases phosphorus solubility and improves calcium and phosphorus utilization. In laying poultry, it enhances eggshell thickness and reduces cracked or soft-shelled eggs. Enhancing Production Performance Pigs: Increases daily weight gain in piglets by up to 10%, reduces feed conversion ratio in finishing pigs by up to 10%; improves piglet survival rates in sows. Poultry: Increases laying rate and improves eggshell quality in laying hens; boosts weight gain and reduces ascites in broilers. Ruminants: Increases milk yield in dairy cows by 5%–8% and improves milk fat percentage; shortens finishing period and improves feed utilization in beef cattle. Maintaining Health and Reducing Disease Risk Inhibits harmful intestinal bacteria and maintains gut microbiota balance. Prevents urinary calculi, pica (by supplementing sodium), and rumen acidosis. II. Recommended Addition Levels for Common Livestock and Poultry (Reference) Pigs: 0.5% for piglets; 3–4 g/head/day for finishing pigs; 4–5 g/head/day for sows. Laying hens/Broilers: 0.1%–0.5%; higher levels can be used in summer or under stress. Dairy cows: 80–150 g/head/day (0.5%–1% of the diet). Beef cattle/Sheep: 1%–2% of concentrate; 4–6 g/head/day for sheep. III. Precautions Avoid mixing with acidic additives (e.g., organic acids, vitamin C) to prevent loss of efficacy. Reduce addition when using high-salt diets to prevent excess sodium. Conduct small-scale trials first, then gradually adjust to the recommended levels.

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2026/03

Magnesium Chloride:Widely Used Inorganic Compound

Magnesium Chloride: A Widely Used Inorganic Compound Magnesium chloride (chemical formula: MgCl₂) is a practical and common inorganic compound, widely distributed in seawater, salt lakes and carnallite. It usually exists in the form of hexahydrate and is an indispensable basic raw material in modern industry and daily life. With its unique physical and chemical properties, it penetrates into many core fields, with both excellent performance and economy, becoming an important link connecting industrial production and daily life. Magnesium chloride is a white or colorless crystalline solid, easily soluble in water and ethanol, and its aqueous solution is weakly acidic. Its most prominent characteristic is strong hygroscopicity, which is prone to deliquescence and caking in the air. Therefore, it should be stored in sealed packaging and placed in a dry and ventilated place. It has stable chemical properties, can be electrolyzed to produce metallic magnesium in the molten state, and can also undergo double decomposition reactions with various substances, laying a foundation for its wide application. Its applications cover many fields: in industry, it is a core raw material in the building materials industry, which can be made into magnesium oxychloride cement products such as fireproof boards and light partition walls, and can also be used as an environmentally friendly road deicer, as well as in water treatment, electroplating and other fields; in diet, magnesium chloride, commonly known as "brine", is a key coagulant for soybean product processing, which can make tender-tasting tofu and other products, and food-grade magnesium chloride must comply with national food safety standards. In the agricultural field, magnesium chloride can be used as a magnesium fertilizer to supplement crop nutrients, promote photosynthesis, and improve yield and quality. It can also be used as a feed additive to assist the growth of livestock and poultry; in the medical field, it can be used to prepare electrolyte supplements to regulate the body's electrolyte balance, and can also be used as a laxative to relieve constipation. At the same time, it can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient to improve drug stability. Safety should be noted when using it. It is slightly corrosive, so protective equipment must be worn during operation. If it comes into contact accidentally, it should be rinsed with clean water in a timely manner. In addition to being sealed and moisture-proof during storage, it should also be kept away from strong acids and oxidants, and stored separately from food and medicine to avoid cross-contamination. This ordinary compound supports the development of various industries with its unique value, and its application fields will continue to expand in the future.

28

2026/02

Calcium Chloride Deicer: Guarding America

Calcium Chloride Deicer: Guarding America Every winter, Arctic cold waves sweep across America, blanketing highways, airports, streets and lanes in ice and snow, which greatly hinders travel. At such times, calcium chloride deicer proves invaluable, serving as an indispensable helper for ensuring smooth winter travel in North America. From the freezing highways of Alaska in the United States to the urban streets of Quebec in Canada, this reliable deicing material not only guarantees safe travel for people but also minimizes environmental impact, building a solid barrier for unobstructed winter commutes. Winters in America are extremely harsh, and calcium chloride deicer delivers outstanding performance in low-temperature conditions. Unlike ordinary table salt (sodium chloride) deicer, calcium chloride can steadily melt ice and snow even in extreme cold as low as -32°C, while table salt loses most of its effectiveness at -10°C. Its most distinctive feature is that it generates heat spontaneously when dissolved; it also quickly absorbs moisture in the air to form deicing brine, penetrating ice layers much faster than other similar products. It can melt large areas of ice in just 20 minutes, saving precious time for road clearance. The effectiveness of calcium chloride has been proven in many parts of America. In the United States alone, over 60 municipal administrations and more than 20 professional deicing companies rely on it to keep roads clear in winter. A single operation can cover 400 kilometers of highways, and dedicated distribution and supply channels are in place to ensure sufficient dosage and consistent performance. When used at airports, it allows planes to take off sooner after deicing, reducing flight delays. In areas with heavy snowfall, specialized deicing fleets equipped with calcium chloride conduct regular deicing operations in winter, constantly optimizing application results. Canada has an even higher demand for deicers, consuming millions of tons each year. Thanks to calcium chloride’s superior low-temperature performance and reduced corrosion to roads and bridges, many regions use it to replace part of the table salt. Beyond its excellent performance, great emphasis is placed on environmental protection and loss reduction when using calcium chloride in America. To address the issue of deicers corroding roads and vehicles, calcium chloride, with its low salt content, is 90% less corrosive than ordinary table salt. This significantly reduces damage to bridges and vehicles, saving substantial maintenance costs. Additionally, liquid calcium chloride is highly popular in North America due to its stable properties and easy dosage control. It not only cuts material consumption by 40% and lowers costs but also mitigates impacts on soil and water sources. Countries across America have also established strict regulations to guide the scientific use of calcium chloride. Based on environmental protection laws, Canada has issued deicer application standards, requiring all regions to make sound plans, optimize spreading methods and properly dispose of snow—ensuring both traffic safety and minimal environmental impact. The United States also has a specialized inspection mechanism to fully monitor the dosage, effectiveness and environmental footprint of deicers, striving to achieve the best deicing results with the least amount of material. This model of "product improvement + standardized application" enables calcium chloride to effectively melt ice without causing significant environmental harm, making it a wise choice for America to cope with harsh winters.

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2026/01