The most common nutritional errors leading to ketosis and acidosis in dairy cows
Why are ketosis and acidosis still so common?
Ketosis and ruminal acidosis are some of the most common metabolic diseases in modern dairy farms. The latest scientific reviews from 2024-2025 emphasize that these problems are primarily caused by dietary errors and incorrect dose management. What is important - it is not about dramatic mistakes, but about small everyday shortcomings that accumulate and lead to metabolic disorders. And that's why it's so crucial to understand where errors most often occur.
Too low energy supply after calving
The transition period is the most demanding time in the life of a dairy cow. If the dose does not provide enough energy, the cow enters a negative energy balance - it begins to mobilize fat, the level of NEFA and ketone bodies increases, and this is a direct path to ketosis. Research also highlights the importance of body condition: too high a dry weight reduces appetite after birth and increases the risk of disorders. A common mistake is to assume that "the cow will make up for it on its own", when the decrease in feed intake immediately after giving birth is one of the key factors in the development of subclinical ketosis.
Too much starch and too little effective fiber
Rumen acidosis most often results from an imbalance between starch and fiber. Too rapid fermentation of starch-rich feed causes a sharp decrease in rumen pH, fermentation disorders and a decrease in appetite. The 2025 reviews even describe a new aspect of acidosis - the formation of rumen foam in high-starch diets. The problem often begins at the stage of mechanical processing of TMR: too fine chaff, long mixing time of the feed mixer or inaccurate fiber distribution cause cows to segregate the feed and choose only energy fractions. As a result, they get more starch than they should.
Check out the DEMO!Errors in protein supply and energy-to-protein imbalance
Protein deficiency weakens the rumen microflora and impairs energy utilization, but protein excess is also a problem. Excessive amounts increase ammonia production, burden the liver and indirectly affect the risk of ketosis. WUR reports clearly indicate that the most dangerous doses are those in which energy and protein are not synchronized. It is the lack of this balance that leads to fermentation disorders and an increased risk of subclinical acidosis.
Sudden changes in nutrition and unstable TMR quality
Changing silage, quickly increasing the amount of concentrate, seasonal fluctuations in dry matter - these are some of the most common mistakes mentioned in Penn State Extension's guides. The rumen does not tolerate sudden changes. Even a perfectly planned dose loses its value if TMR is not prepared according to the recipe. In practice, this means that controlling the execution of TMR is as important as the recipe itself.
Poor nutrition during the dry period
Dry cows are often fed too rich a diet, which leads to excessive fat gain and poor appetite after giving birth. This is a classic scenario that regularly leads to ketosis in studies. Additionally, the incorrect structure of the dry dose affects the development of the rumen microflora and increases the risk of acidosis after parturition - especially if the transition to the lactation dose occurs too quickly.
How does Smart Feed help you avoid mistakes that lead to ketosis and acidosis?
Many nutritional mistakes result not from lack of knowledge, but from lack of repetition in everyday work. Smart Feed supports the farmer exactly where the greatest risk occurs - during the preparation and feeding of TMR. What's more, together with the Dinamica Generale weighing system, it controls the entire process from balancing to dose administration in real time. Thanks to this, it is not only well calculated, but above all administered exactly as it should be. Dose stability is the simplest and most effective way to reduce the risk of ketosis and acidosis.
Most cases of ketosis and acidosis result from small, everyday mistakes: too little energy after calving, too much starch, improper TMR structure, energy and protein imbalance, sudden changes in ration, and dry cow feeding irregularities. Good observation of the herd and precise control of the dose is the best prevention. And if we can use tools that monitor key parameters for us - it is worth using them, because precise nutrition is the foundation of a healthy herd.
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