Acidosis

Too much acid in the rumen is basically indigestion caused by feeding too much starch or sugar too fast, especially if the rumen is not used to it. Either the rumen bugs and /or the papillae that line the rumen are not used to the products of concentrate feeds being fermented . The worst situation is cattle on forage getting into a feed store and bingeing on grain, which is known as grain overload. This can be fatal!

More commonly it is an unseen condition known as SARA or Sub-Acute Ruminal Acidosis. The rumen is too acid, lowering dry matter intake, lowering yield and butterfat and causing loose muck. As a result whole herd production and fertility suffers. Good advice is needed and not a "magic-wand" product.

For the boffins here is an article on Comparing Bicarb and live Yeast in high yielding cows.