Agvance Free Choice Transition Starter is designed for situations where it’s challenging to dose the negative DCAD minerals for the desired 21 days. This innovative supplement can be dosed at the run-off on the break, in PK Trailers or in bins.Why Starter? Start your cows with this product at the run-off and finish them on-farm with a comprehensive DCAD premix, fed over sileage or on the feedpad. This flexibility allows you to get an excellent result in the most cost-effective way.Scientifically-proven features and benefits:Delivers mineral salts in negative DCAD formSupports rumen function and higher levels of available energy in early lactationHelps prevent metabolic diseaseHelps ensure optimum mineral levelsImproves immune functionMaximises the cow’s ability to combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammationIncreases cow’s efficiency in releasing and absorbing calcium and phosphorus from the dietYour local Agvance Consultant can help you determine the best approach for your herd. Get in touch today to discuss how Free Choice Transition Starter can fit into your farm system.Talk to your local Agvance Consultant The right minerals at the right timeSet your cows up for success by giving your herd the right minerals at the right time, easily and effectively. Free Choice Transition Starter is a balanced mineral blend in negative DCAD form that helps reduce metabolic disease, improve calcium metabolism, and enhance rumen function.A smarter choice for transition managementUnlike traditional mineral supplementation methods that require measuring, mixing, or forced intake, Free Choice Transition Starter lets cows take what they need, when they need it. This reduces waste, improves efficiency, and ensures more consistent mineral uptake. With its great-tasting formula, you can trust that your cows will eat it – helping to set them up for a strong start to lactation.How it worksCalving can be challenging, but Free Choice Transition Starter is easy to feed in tough conditions. Simply set out the bins, and your cows will naturally consume the minerals they need. Feeding in bins means that minerals remain available even in muddy winter conditions, making it a hassle-free solution for farmers.Ready to get started?Call 0800 BALANCE, contact your local Agvance consultant directly or login to your Agvance account to learn more. Make the smarter choice for your herd today. What the research shows Across many trials, lower (more negative) pre-calving diets are associated with lower milk fever risk. (DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72130-0)A controlled study found better blood calcium control around calving with negative DCAD. (DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23588)On commercial farms, results varied by parity, with benefits seen mainly in older cows. (DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19390) Limits These studies test negative DCAD strategies, not this specific Agvance product or free-choice intake.  Study details and links What was tested Research on negative DCAD close-up feeding strategies for dry cows, including a meta-analysis, controlled studies and commercial farm studies. What was measured Milk fever incidence, blood calcium (including ionised calcium), urine pH, milk yield and culling risk. Study links (DOI / publisher) Hypocalcemia in Dairy Cows: Meta-analysis and Dietary Cation Anion Difference Theory Revisited, Journal of Dairy Science: DOI 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72130-0PubMed record: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16428636/Influence of prepartum dietary cation-anion difference and the magnitude of calcium decline at the onset of lactation on mineral metabolism and physiological responses, Journal of Dairy Science: DOI 10.3168/jds.2023-23588PubMed record: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37769944/Controlled trial of the effect of negative dietary cation-anion difference prepartum diets on milk production, reproductive performance, and culling of dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science: DOI 10.3168/jds.2020-19390PubMed record: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33715852/Effects of anionic supplement source in prepartum negative dietary cation-anion difference diets on serum calcium, feed intake, and lactational performance of multiparous dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science: DOI 10.3168/jds.2019-16991Publisher page: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030220301387 More detail on limits Evidence supports the negative DCAD approach, not this branded product on its own.Intake consistency matters. With free-choice systems, individual cow intake can vary.