When the diet of a ruminant is drastically changed from grass to a starch rich diet,the ruminant may become very ill or die because:

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When a ruminant's diet is changed from grass to a starch-rich diet, there is a rapid fermentation of the starch in the rumen by the microbial population. This results in an excessive production of lactic acid which lowers the pH of the rumen and causes acidosis. Acidosis can lead to severe illness, laminitis, and even death.

When the Diet of a Ruminant Is Drastically Changed from Grass