Calculators
Livestock Feed Cost Calculator
Estimate daily feed intake, feed needed and cost per head per day for cattle, sheep or goats from body weight and dry matter intake.
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- Nothing uploaded
The tool
Enter your numbers below. Results update as you type, and nothing leaves your browser.
Everything you enter stays on your own machine. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, which you can confirm in your browser network tab.
What people use it for
- Winter feed budgeting
- Comparing feed options
- Ordering hay and grain
- Cost of production analysis
About this tool
What the Livestock Feed Cost Calculator does
Animals eat roughly a set share of their body weight in dry matter each day, commonly about 2% to 3% for cattle. Converting dry matter to as-fed weight using the feed’s dry matter content, and adding waste, gives the feed to supply and its cost.
Formula
- DMI = body weight × intake %
- As-fed = DMI ÷ dry matter % × (1 + waste)
- Cost per day = as-fed lb ÷ 2,000 × price per ton
Worked example
Using the starting values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of animals | 100 |
| Average body weight | 1,200 lb |
| Dry matter intake | 2.5% |
| Feed dry matter content | 88% |
| Feeding waste | 10% |
| Feed price per ton (as fed) | $140 |
| Feeding days | 150 |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Feed cost per head per day | $2.63 |
| Total feed cost | $39,375 |
| As-fed feed per head per day (lb) | 37.5 |
| Dry matter intake per head per day (lb) | 30.0 |
| Total feed needed (tons) | 281.3 |
| Feed cost per head for the period | $394 |
How to read the result
Price feeds on a dry matter basis when comparing wet and dry feeds; water is not food.
Bale rings, feeders and limiting access can cut hay waste sharply.
Estimates for planning. Use soil tests, local extension guidance and your agronomist’s recommendations for field decisions.
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Questions
Questions about this tool
The things clients actually want to know — costs, timelines, ownership and what happens after launch.
Roughly 2% to 3% of body weight in dry matter, depending on stage and feed quality.
The part of feed left after removing water, which holds the nutrients.
Divide the price per ton by the dry matter percentage to get cost per ton of dry matter.
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