Acute acidosis can cause cow deaths.
Subclinical acidosis depresses feed conversion and intake and milk fat levels. Limits the amount of grain that can be safely fed therefore limits production potential. No ability to balance low mineral levels of grain or pasture, therefore no ability to redress milk fever, grass tetany, selenium, copper deficiencies etc. Superior starch energy utilisation from pellets explained. This is because during pelleting, the high temperature acts to gelatinise starch, making it more digestible, so less escapes the digestive process to be lost in faeces.