Anionic supplements are valued in dry cow feeding programs to “acidify” diets and deliver negatively charged mineral anions, enhancing calcium metabolism in the transition period. Improved calcium metabolism can help increase dry matter intake and milk production post-calving. Also, the incidence of milk fever and udder edema may be reduced when anionic dry cow diets are fed.
While dry anionic supplements offer key benefits for dry cow feeding programs, they also present disadvantages such as low palatability, separation from coarse rations, shrinkage, inefficient handling, and economic concerns.