Animate is a mixture of several mineral salts manufactured with a proprietary process resulting in enhanced palatability. In addition, Animate supplies both chloride and sulfur. Feeding a combination of chloride and sulfur leads to better dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) diet results. Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride are single source mineral salts that can be unpalatable and do not supply any sulfur. Maintaining high dry matter intake during the close-up period has positive benefits to the cow both prior to and following calving. Choosing an anionic mineral product that is palatable helps to achieve high dry matter intakes during the close-up period.