Rumen acidosis in dairy cattle.

Milk yields of North American dairy cows have increased substantially during recent years. This has created challenges, because, in order to meet the increased potential for milk production, dairy diets have to contain more grain and less forage. Feeding these high concentrate diets can result in high concentrations of organic acids in the rumen and a reduction in chewing, saliva production and rumen buffering (Kleen et al., 2003; Stone, 2004). This can lead to an increase in rumen acidity and a drop in rumen pH. When rumen pH is reduced for prolonged periods each day, subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) can occur (Kleen et al, 2003; Stone, 2004). This metabolic disease affects rumen fermentation and digestion, but also impacts many other aspects of production and health of dairy cows.