Livestock Feed Calculator

Estimate how much feed your livestock need with our free livestock feed calculator. Calculate daily hay, grain, and pasture requirements, estimate feed waste, and plan purchasing costs for cattle, goats, sheep, and horses. Whether you’re planning your winter hay supply, budgeting feed expenses, or managing your livestock’s daily feeding schedule, this calculator makes it easier to plan ahead.

Livestock Feed Calculator

Estimate daily feed, hay bales, grain bags, and feeding costs for your herd.

1. Your livestock

Livestock type

Number of animals

Average weight per animal

Production stage

Daily dry matter intake (% of body weight)

Feeding period

2. Build your feeding plan

Start with hay, then add grain, pasture, or another feed. Set the percentage of total dietary dry matter each feed supplies. These are your feeding assumptions, not recommended ration proportions.

All feed shares must total 100%. Each feed has its own dry matter, waste, purchase unit, and price.

Your estimated feed plan

Total daily feed to offer—All feeds, including estimated waste

Total feed for period—Across 30 days

Estimated purchase cost—Enter prices for an estimate

Cost per animal per day—Based on priced feeds only

Feed-by-feed breakdown

Feed	Daily offered	Total needed	Purchase quantity	Cost

How these numbers are calculated

Feed	Dry matter / day	As-fed consumed / day	Waste / day

This is a feed quantity and purchasing estimator, not a ration formulation tool. Entering a grain percentage does not mean that percentage is nutritionally safe. Feed types differ in energy, protein, effective fiber, minerals, and other nutrients. Pasture quantity is estimated as consumed or offered fresh forage and is not necessarily a purchase quantity. Consult a qualified livestock nutritionist or veterinarian for feeding recommendations.

Calculate your feed. Now track it.

Track animal feeding records, feed purchases, and expenses with FarmKeep.

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Planning references: OSU winter hay needs · OSU forage testing. Default intake and moisture percentages are editable estimates.

How to Use the Livestock Feed Calculator

Our livestock feed calculator estimates the amount of forage your animals will consume based on their body weight, estimated dry matter intake, and feeding conditions. Follow these steps to calculate your livestock’s feed requirements.

Step 1: Enter Your Livestock Information

Select your livestock species, enter the number of animals you’re feeding, and provide their average weight.

The calculator supports:

Beef cattle
Dairy cattle
Goats
Sheep
Horses

Each species has different feeding requirements, so the calculator uses species-specific dry matter intake estimates to calculate daily feed consumption. You can adjust the recommended intake percentage to better reflect your animals’ needs.

Step 2: Select Your Feed Type

Choose the type of forage you’re feeding, such as grass hay, alfalfa hay, mixed hay, haylage, or silage. Different feeds contain different amounts of moisture, which affects how much feed an animal needs to consume. The calculator accounts for these differences using the feed’s estimated dry matter percentage. If you have a forage analysis report, you can enter the actual dry matter percentage for a more accurate estimate.

Step 3: Adjust Your Feeding Assumptions

Enter the percentage of your animals’ total diet supplied by the selected feed and the amount of feed you expect to lose through waste. For example, if your goats receive both pasture and hay, you can estimate what percentage of their total dietary dry matter comes from hay. The calculator also accounts for feed losses caused by trampling, spillage, and other waste.

Step 4: Choose Your Feeding Period

Select how long you plan to feed your livestock. You can calculate feed requirements for a single day, a week, a month, or an entire winter feeding season.

Step 5: Estimate Your Feed Costs

Enter your bale or bag weight and the price you pay for feed. The calculator estimates how much feed you’ll need to purchase and the total cost. You can also view the estimated feeding cost per animal.

How Much Feed Do Livestock Need?

Livestock feed consumption varies depending on the animal’s species, body weight, age, production stage, feed quality, and environmental conditions. A common way to estimate feed intake is to calculate the amount of dry matter an animal consumes as a percentage of its body weight.

The following table provides general planning estimates for common livestock species.

Livestock	Estimated daily dry matter intake	Example daily intake
Beef cattle	2.0% of body weight	24 lbs DM for a 1,200 lb cow
Lactating dairy cattle	3.5% of body weight	49 lbs DM for a 1,400 lb cow
Dry dairy cattle	1.9% of body weight	26.6 lbs DM for a 1,400 lb cow
Goats	3.0% of body weight	4.5 lbs DM for a 150 lb goat
Sheep	2.0% of body weight	3 lbs DM for a 150 lb sheep
Horses	1.8% of body weight	18 lbs DM for a 1,000 lb horse

DM = dry matter. These are general planning estimates, not individualized feeding recommendations. Actual intake varies with animal condition, diet, and production stage.

How Much Feed Does a Cow Need?

A mature, nonlactating beef cow may consume approximately 2% of its body weight in dry matter daily. For example, a 1,200-pound beef cow consuming 2% of its body weight requires approximately 24 pounds of dry matter. If grass hay contains 90% dry matter, that equals approximately 26.7 pounds of hay consumed daily.

Dairy cattle generally have higher intake requirements when producing milk. A lactating dairy cow may consume substantially more dry matter than a nonlactating cow of the same weight.

How Much Feed Does a Goat Need?

Goats may consume approximately 2–6% of their body weight in dry matter daily, depending on their age, size, production stage, and diet. For general planning, our calculator uses a default estimate of 3%. A 150-pound goat consuming 3% of its body weight would require approximately 4.5 pounds of dry matter daily. If that dry matter comes entirely from hay containing 90% dry matter, the goat would consume approximately 5 pounds of hay per day. Actual requirements can differ significantly for growing kids, pregnant does, and lactating dairy goats.

How Much Feed Does a Sheep Need?

Mature sheep at maintenance may consume approximately 2% of their body weight in dry matter daily. For example, a 150-pound sheep consuming 2% of its body weight would require approximately 3 pounds of dry matter per day. At 90% dry matter, this equals approximately 3.3 pounds of hay consumed daily. Growing lambs and pregnant or lactating ewes may have different intake requirements.

How Much Feed Does a Horse Need?

Horses typically consume forage daily, with intake varying according to body weight, workload, age, and health. For general planning, our calculator uses an estimated dry matter intake of 1.8% of body weight for a mature horse at maintenance. A 1,000-pound horse consuming 1.8% of its body weight in dry matter requires approximately 18 pounds of dry matter daily. If hay contains 90% dry matter, this equals approximately 20 pounds of hay. This is an illustrative maintenance estimate. Individual horses may require different amounts, and forage intake should be evaluated as part of the horse’s complete feeding program.

How to Calculate Livestock Feed Requirements

Livestock feed requirements can be estimated using animal weight, dry matter intake, feed moisture, and expected feed waste.

1. Calculate Daily Dry Matter Intake

Start by multiplying the animal’s body weight by its estimated daily dry matter intake percentage.

Daily Dry Matter Intake = Animal Weight × DMI Percentage

For example:

A 150-pound goat consuming 3% of its body weight:

150 × 0.03 = 4.5 pounds of dry matter per day.

For a herd of 10 goats:

4.5 × 10 = 45 pounds of dry matter daily.

2. Convert Dry Matter Into Actual Feed Weight

Next, account for the moisture content of the selected feed.

Daily Feed Consumed = Daily Dry Matter Intake ÷ Feed Dry Matter Percentage

If hay contains 90% dry matter: 45 ÷ 0.90 = 50 pounds of hay consumed daily.

This calculation assumes the selected hay supplies 100% of the herd’s estimated dry matter intake.

3. Account for Feed Waste

Not all feed offered to livestock is consumed. Some feed may be lost through trampling, contamination, spoilage, or spillage.

To account for these losses: Daily Feed Offered = Daily Feed Consumed ÷ (1 − Feed Waste Percentage)

For example, with 15% waste: 50 ÷ 0.85 = 58.8 pounds of hay offered daily.

4. Calculate Feed Requirements Over Time

Multiply the daily feed offered by the number of feeding days.

Total Feed Needed = Daily Feed Offered × Feeding Days

For a 30-day feeding period: 58.8 × 30 = approximately 1,765 pounds of hay.

5. Calculate How Many Bales You Need

Divide the total feed requirement by the weight of each bale.

Bales Needed = Total Feed Required ÷ Bale Weight

For 50-pound hay bales: 1,765 ÷ 50 = 35.3 bales.

Round up to the next whole bale.

Estimated purchase: 36 bales.

At $12 per bale, the estimated purchasing cost would be $432.

Understanding Dry Matter Intake in Livestock

Dry matter intake, commonly abbreviated as DMI, refers to the amount of feed an animal consumes after removing its water content. It is an important measurement in livestock nutrition because different feeds contain different amounts of moisture. For example, fresh pasture contains substantially more water than dried hay. Even when two feeds weigh the same, they may provide very different amounts of dry matter.

Dry Matter Content of Common Livestock Feeds

Feed type	Example dry matter content
Grass hay	90%
Alfalfa hay	90%
Mixed hay	90%
Haylage / baleage	50%
Silage	35%

Illustrative moisture assumptions only. Actual dry matter content varies; use a forage analysis when available.

These values are approximate. Actual dry matter content varies depending on the feed and its storage conditions. A forage analysis provides a more accurate measurement.

Why Does Dry Matter Matter?

Imagine an animal needs 10 pounds of dry matter daily. If the animal receives hay containing 90% dry matter, it would need approximately 11.1 pounds of hay to obtain 10 pounds of dry matter.

If the animal receives silage containing 35% dry matter, it would need approximately 28.6 pounds of silage to obtain the same amount of dry matter. This doesn’t mean the two feeds provide identical nutrition. Dry matter measures feed quantity after excluding water, not its protein, energy, mineral, or vitamin content.

How Feed Waste Affects Livestock Feeding Costs

Feed waste can significantly increase the amount of forage farmers need to purchase. Hay losses may occur during storage, handling, and feeding.

Common causes include:

Livestock trampling hay.
Animals pulling hay from feeders.
Hay becoming contaminated with manure.
Exposure to rain or moisture.
Improper storage.
Spoilage.

Example: How Waste Changes Hay Requirements

Assume a herd consumes 1,000 pounds of hay over a given period.

Feed waste	Hay required to cover 1,000 lbs consumed
0%	1,000 lbs
5%	1,053 lbs
10%	1,111 lbs
15%	1,176 lbs
20%	1,250 lbs
30%	1,429 lbs

Calculated as 1,000 ÷ (1 − waste rate), rounded to the nearest pound. Waste is defined as a percentage of feed offered.

The more feed that is wasted, the more hay farmers need to purchase. Using appropriate feeders, protecting hay from moisture, and monitoring feeding practices can help reduce unnecessary losses.

Tips for Planning Livestock Feed Purchases

Estimating feed requirements is a useful starting point for managing livestock expenses. However, actual consumption can change throughout the year.

Monitor Animal Weight and Body Condition

As animals grow, gain weight, lose weight, or enter different production stages, their feed requirements may change. Regularly monitoring body condition can help identify when a feeding program needs adjustment.

Consider Seasonal Feeding Changes

Animals may require different feeding strategies during winter, drought, or periods of limited pasture availability. Farmers who rely on stored hay should estimate how much forage they’ll need during months when pasture growth is limited.

Account for Feed Quality

Two batches of hay may have different nutritional values even when they weigh the same. Forage testing can provide useful information about protein, energy, fiber, and moisture content.

Reduce Feed Waste

Improving feed storage and using suitable feeders can reduce losses and help purchased feed last longer.

Track Your Feed Expenses

Feed is an ongoing expense for livestock owners. Keeping records of feed purchases and expenses can help farmers understand their operating costs and plan future purchases.

Make Livestock Management Easier with FarmKeep

Calculating your livestock’s feed requirements is just one part of managing a farm. FarmKeep helps you organize your animals, record feeding activities, track expenses, and manage important farm information in one place. Whether you’re raising a small backyard herd or managing a growing livestock operation, FarmKeep gives you the tools to stay organized.

Spend less time managing spreadsheets and more time enjoying your farm. Get Started with FarmKeep →

More Livestock Calculators

Explore additional calculators and tools to help manage your farm. (Coming Soon)

Goat Feed Calculator
Cattle Feed Calculator
Hay Calculator
Sheep Feed Calculator
Poultry Feed Calculator
Chicken Feed Calculator

FAQ

How do I calculate how much feed my livestock need?

Multiply your animal’s weight by its estimated daily dry matter intake percentage. Then adjust for feed moisture, the percentage of the diet supplied by that feed, and expected waste. Multiply the daily amount by the number of feeding days to estimate the total quantity required.

What percentage of body weight should livestock eat daily?

It depends on the species, age, production stage, and feed quality. Mature beef cattle may consume around 2% of their body weight in dry matter daily, while goats and sheep can have different intake requirements. Use species-specific estimates as a starting point and adjust them to your animals’ circumstances.

How much hay do I need for winter?

Estimate your livestock’s daily hay requirements, account for expected waste, and multiply by the number of days you’ll rely on stored hay. The total can then be divided by the average weight of your hay bales to estimate how many bales to purchase.

How do I calculate livestock feed costs?

First, calculate the total feed quantity required for your selected period. Then divide by the weight of each bale or bag and round up to whole purchasing units. Multiply the number of units by the price per unit to estimate your feed purchasing cost.

What is dry matter intake?

Dry matter intake is the amount of feed consumed after excluding water. It allows farmers to compare feed quantities with different moisture levels and estimate how much actual feed is needed to supply a target amount of dry matter.

Does this calculator work for goats, sheep, cattle, and horses?

Yes. The FarmKeep Livestock Feed Calculator supports beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, sheep, and horses. Each category includes a starting dry matter intake estimate that users can adjust.

Can I use this calculator for chickens or pigs?

Not currently. Chickens and pigs have feeding requirements that depend heavily on age, production stage, and feed formulation. FarmKeep plans to introduce additional species-specific calculators.

Does this calculator determine a complete livestock diet?

No. This calculator estimates forage quantities and purchasing costs. It does not determine whether a diet provides adequate energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, or other essential nutrients.

Sources & References

The calculator’s methodology and general feeding estimates are informed by agricultural extension resources, including:

Disclaimer: This calculator provides general estimates for forage consumption and purchasing. Actual feed requirements vary depending on animal health, age, production stage, feed quality, and environmental conditions. It is not a substitute for professional livestock nutrition guidance.

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Livestock Feed Calculator