Moreover, there is a relationship between health, feed and production.
The following presents the highlights of one of many articles found in the art regarding the relationship.

Diseases Associated With Low Fiber/Acidosis:

Bloat is a common problem when forage to concentrate dry matter ratio is too low. Animals receiving rations that cause chronic bloat do poorly as ruminal pH is too low (too acidic), and normal digestion of nutrients is impaired and further feed intake is minimal.

Laminitis (foot problems and founder) is a sequel to the bloat and indigestion/off feed condition when the forage to concentrate ratio is too low. Laminitis causes lameness, continual discomfort when cows are standing, and poor performance.

Indigestion/off feed occurs when considerable starch imbalance continues and creates very high ruminal acidity.
Chronic (long duration) fluctuations in feed intake are common signs of low fiber diets. A cow cannot maximize feed intake or milk production while on this feed intake "roller coaster."


Liver abscesses generally are a sequel to prolonged low forage to concentrate ratio and ruminal acidity to the point that excess acid may promote or cause rumen erosion/ulcers from which various bacteria may enter the bloodstream. These bacteria are filtered out by the liver, resulting in liver infection and creating the abscesses, which impair liver function efficiency.

Displaced abomasum (DA) is a disorder of cattle in which the abomasum (fourth or true stomach) becomes distended with gas, fluid, or both, and shifts to an abnormal position. Most DA's occur in cows within two weeks after calving, so the conditions associated with calving appear to be at least one predisposing factor. A high concentrate (grain mix) level in the dry cow ration during late gestation and after calving appears to substantially increase the incidence of DA's.
Signs of DA's resemble ketosis (off feed, intermittent eating), scant bowel movements, normal temperature, reduced milk production, and listlessness and general discomfort.

Low milk fat content can occur by feeding low forage to concentrate ratios, or rations in which the forage has been too finely ground. Milk fat depression is typically associated with acidosis, off-feed problems, and sore feet. Supplying the cow with adequate dietary fiber, both in terms of level and particle size, usually eliminates these interrelated nutritional problems.” (Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln October, 1993, Dairy Cow Health And Metabolic Disease Relative To Nutritional Factors Duane N. Rice, Extension Veterinarian, Rick Grant, Extension Dairy Specialist)

"The effects of milk fever, ketosis, and lameness were studied using data from 23,416 Finnish Ayrshire cows that calved in 1993 and were followed for one lactation. The milk yield of cows contracting milk fever was affected for a period of 4 to 6 wk after calving; the loss ranged from 1.1 to 2.9 kg/d. Milk yield started to decline 2 to 4 wk before the diagnosis of ketosis and continued to decline for a varying time period after it. The daily milk loss was greatest within the 2 wk after the diagnosis, varying from 3.0 to 5.3 kg/d, depending on parity. Cows in parity 4 or higher were most severely affected by ketosis; the average total loss per cow was 353.4 kg. Lameness also affected milk yield; milk loss of cows diagnosed with foot and leg disorders varied between 1.5 and 2.8 kg/d during the first 2 wk after the diagnosis. (Source: 1999 Journal of Dairy Science, 82:288-294: Effects of Milk Fever, Ketosis, and Lameness on Milk Yield in Dairy Cows - P. J. RAJALA-SCHULTZ et al., Section of Epidemiology, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY)

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