Sodium bentonite is NOT a buffer, but it does swell up in the rumen and change rates of feed passage. Wisconsin researchers in the 1970s reported milk fat test benefits at a feeding rate of 5% of the grain mix. We do not recommend bentonite (a clay mineral) as a buffer. Stay with sodium bicarbonate or sodium sesquicarbonate at 0.75% of the ration dry matter.
Mike Hutjens, Extension Dairy Specialist, University of Illinois - Illini DairyNET