Livestock Feed Ration Calculator
Size a daily feed ration from body weight and dry-matter intake, split it into forage and concentrate, and estimate the feed cost.
How it works
Daily DM = body weight × intake % · Forage = daily DM × forage share · Concentrate = daily DM × (1 − forage share)
Dry-matter intake for ruminants scales with body weight, typically 2–3% of live weight per day depending on class and production stage. Splitting that intake between forage and concentrate sets the ration’s energy density: high-forage rations suit maintenance and growing stock, while finishing and high-milk animals need more concentrate. Because feed is bought as-fed rather than as dry matter, treat the cost figure as a planning estimate and adjust for actual moisture.
Worked example
A 1,200 lb animal at 2.5% of body weight eats 1,200 × 0.025 = 30 lbs of dry matter a day. A 70% forage ration is 21 lbs forage and 9 lbs concentrate; at $0.12/lb that is $3.60/day, or about $108 a month.
Frequently asked questions
What intake percentage should I use?
As a rule of thumb, dry cows and maintenance run near 2%, growing and lactating animals 2.5–3%, and high-producing dairy cows can exceed 3.5% of body weight in dry matter. Match the figure to the animal’s class and production stage.
Is this ration nutritionally balanced?
No — it sizes total intake and the forage-to-concentrate split, not protein, energy or mineral balance. For a balanced ration that meets NRC nutrient requirements, work with a nutritionist or ration-balancing software using your actual feed analyses.
Dry matter versus as-fed — which do I feed?
Animals are fed as-fed weights, but rations are formulated on a dry-matter basis so feeds of different moisture can be compared. Convert dry matter to as-fed by dividing by the feed’s dry-matter fraction (e.g. 21 lbs DM of 40%-DM silage is about 52 lbs as fed).
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.