Rumen health is central to dairy cow welfare, with acidosis and other rumen disorders causing significant pain and compromising immune function and overall health.
Rumen health represents a fundamental welfare challenge in high-producing dairy systems where the nutritional demands of milk production push cows toward metabolic disorders. Subacute rumen acidosis causing chronic pain, laminitis, and immune compromise is the welfare price of maximizing milk yield without adequate dietary management. Balancing production demands with rumen health through appropriate fiber provision and careful ration management reduces this welfare burden.