Rumen acidosis is a condition in cattle when pH in the rumen drops to low for normal rumen function and microbial growth. Acidosis can lead to reduced animal weight, liver abscesses, foot abscesses, founder, and death. Acidosis is most often caused by a sudden increase in feeds that contain a large amount of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates like wheat, barely, corn, oats, grain sorghum, wheat midds, rice bran, soybean hulls, and similar feedstuffs. To help prevent acidosis it is important to gradually increase the amount of these feeds in the diet. Also feeding whole corn is safer than steam flaked corn.
