Cud population to live and function. Consumption by ruminants of an insufficiently fibrous diet leads to little cud formation and therefore lowered amounts of saliva production. This in turn is associated with rumen acidosis, where the rumen pH can fall to 5 or lower. Rumen acidosis is associated with a lowered appetite which leads to still lower rates of saliva secretion. Eventually, a collapse of the microbial ecosystem in the rumen will occur because of the low pH. Acute rumen acidosis can lead to death of the animal, and will occur if the animal is allowed to eat a diet with
Chewing tobacco type of chewing tobacco. It consists of shredded tobacco leaf, usually sweetened and sometimes flavored, and often sold in a sealed pouch weighing on average 3oz. Loose leaf chewing tobacco has a sticky texture due to the sweeteners added. Common loose leaf chewing tobaccos include Red Man, Levi Garrett, Beechnut, and Stoker's. Plug chewing tobacco is pressed tobacco leaves into a square, brick-like mass of tobacco. From this, bites are taken from the plug, or can also be cut off and then chewed. Plug tobacco is declining in popularity, and thus is less readily available than loose leaf chewing tobacco.