Agvance’s Optiprill Springer Safe NI is a well-balanced early lactation mineral supplement, specially formulated to be safe to feed to springers while still meeting the mineral requirements of lactating cows.Optiprill Springer SafeA well-balanced, safe pre-calving mineral supplement, specifically formulated to be safe to feed springers while still meeting the mineral requirements of lactating cows. Ideal for those wanting to run springers through the shed to help get them used to loading in the shed and eating the grain. Again contains good levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium and trace minerals to aid through the transition period.Scientifically-proven benefits:Molasses coating for excellent palatabilitySealed for dryness and flowabilityProcessed for consistency and hardnessFast breakdown and release in the rumenSuperior absorptionPremium range of available ingredientsSafe to feed to springersTalk to your local Agvance ConsultantOptiprill has been specifically designed to meet the mineral nutrition and supplement needs of the cow at every level with combinations to suit production level, feed mineral levels, specific health challenges and stage of lactation. Optiprill Springer Safe NI is the revolutionary mineral prill for transitioning dairy cattle in the North Island that delivers all the minerals your springers need in a form that is safe for them. Cows love it. And because it tastes great, you know your cows are eating the full dose each time. With Optiprill, you can eliminate time and money wasted on-farm. Its high palatability and superior absorption increase mineral accuracy and cost-effectiveness. You’ll also say goodbye to the hassle and mess of dusting.Get the science behind Optiprill mineral supplementationOptiprill is the result of many years of research, machinery development, and testing. When farmers told us they wanted a better alternative to dusting that would decrease waste, we decided to create a mineral supplement fed through the inline shed feeding system to increase dosing consistency, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. We went on a global search for the best quality mineral supplements that could be manufactured into a strong and great-tasting prill. We weren’t interested in the status quo, we’d set our sights on creating a product to deliver measurable, improved mineral performance to the cow while removing the hassle, cost, and waste of dusting. Our search led us to products that, when tested, showed better performance than any other market equivalent. Independent and in-house test results gave us the confidence to release Optiprill to the New Zealand market as a superior, complete mineral supplement staple. Optiprill Springer Safe NI is great for North Island springers, and they love it.Get in touch today for specific advice or to order:Call 0800 BALANCE, contact your local Agvance consultant directly or login to your Agvance account. What the research shows A 2024 transition study found that cows fed a negative DCAD diet before calving had a smaller drop in blood ionised calcium as calving approached, and needed less calcium infusion after calving to stay within the normal range. (DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23588)A 2025 study comparing partial and full pre-calving acidification, alongside different calcium levels, found that stronger acidification lowered urine pH as expected, while higher prepartum calcium improved postpartum dry matter intake and energy-corrected milk yield, independent of acidification level. (DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-25783)A 2023 commercial-farm study found that negative DCAD programmes can achieve average urine pH within target ranges under normal farm conditions, but day-to-day variation was high, reinforcing the need to monitor urine pH and feeding consistency rather than assuming the diet is doing the job. (DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100731) Limits These studies assess transition cow mineral and DCAD strategies, not Optiprill Springer Safe North Island itself. Study details and links What was tested Research on pre-calving transition feeding strategies in dairy cows, including controlled work on negative DCAD and blood calcium dynamics, a factorial study on the level of acidification and calcium supply before calving, and a pragmatic commercial-farm study assessing how well negative DCAD programmes hold up under day-to-day farm conditions. What was measured Blood ionised and total calcium, urine pH, urinary calcium and ammonium excretion, dry matter intake, milk production, energy-corrected milk yield, and variation in programme delivery under commercial conditions. Study links (DOI / publisher) 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.2023-23588.Publisher page: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030223006902 Effect of prepartum dietary cation-anion difference strategy and level of dietary calcium on postpartum blood calcium status and milk production of multiparous Holstein cows, Journal of Dairy Science: DOI 10.3168/jds.2024-25783.PubMed record: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40383383/ Negative dietary cation–anion difference in prepartum dairy cow diets: a pragmatic study in two commercial dairy farms, animal: DOI 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100731. Publisher page: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123000277   More detail on limits Evidence supports transition mineral management and pre-calving calcium/DCAD strategies, rather than this branded prill as a directly trialled product. Outcomes can shift with forage potassium, overall calcium and magnesium supply, intake consistency, time on diet, parity, and how reliably minerals are delivered through the feeding system.