Fat and acidosis

Fat is not fermented in the rumen and hence unlike cereal (starch) or sugar sources of energy does not add to the acid load in the rumen. As a result, adding fat to diets enables energy density to be increased without increasing risk of acidosis. Starch and suger sources are fermented at differing rates in the rumen, producing acid, while fat does not (Figure 1).

Figure 1      Rate of fermentation of carbohydrate and fat sources