Livestock Feed Calculator
Daily and total feed — and cost — for your herd or flock
Related calculators
All agriculture- Cattle Profit CalculatorFeeder cattle net profit, cost of gain, and break-even price
- Hay Feeding CalculatorBales of hay needed to feed a herd over a season, with waste
- Grain Bin Capacity CalculatorBushel capacity of a round grain bin from diameter and depth
- Fertilizer Application CalculatorFertilizer product needed to hit a target nutrient rate per acre
- Crop Yield CalculatorTotal production, revenue, profit, and break-even yield for a field
- Plant Population CalculatorPlants per acre and seed needed from row and plant spacing
Quick summary
Enter your animal count, average weight, daily feed rate as a percent of body weight, feed price, and days to get daily and total feed in pounds and tons, plus cost. Fifty 1,200-lb cattle fed at 2.5% of body weight eat 1,500 lb a day (30 lb each); over 120 days that's 90 tons and, at $0.12/lb, $21,600. Feed rate as a percent of body weight is a planning rule of thumb — adjust for feed quality and production stage.
Reviewed by Simple Calculators TeamLast reviewed
How to use this calculator
- Enter the inputs requested by the calculator.
- Choose the units or options that match your situation and review the assumptions.
- Run or update the calculation to see the result.
- Review the result, breakdown, and formulas shown on the page.
- Check the inputs, units, dates, and limitations before saving or sharing the result.
Frequently asked questions
How much feed does an animal need per day?
A common rule of thumb is a daily intake of about 2–3% of body weight in dry matter. A 1,200-lb cow at 2.5% eats roughly 30 lb a day. Actual intake varies with feed quality, weather, and whether the animal is growing, lactating, or maintaining. Enter your rate to size total feed.
How do I estimate total feed for a feeding period?
Multiply daily feed per animal by the number of animals and days. Fifty animals eating 30 lb each for 120 days need 50 × 30 × 120 = 180,000 lb, or 90 tons. This calculator totals it and applies your feed price for cost planning.
What feed rate should I use?
Use dry-matter intake guidance for your species and stage: roughly 2% of body weight for maintenance, 2.5–3%+ for growing or lactating animals, adjusted for feed quality. Your extension service or a nutritionist can give species-specific figures; this tool applies whatever rate you enter.
Does this account for feed quality or waste?
It computes intake from the rate you enter and doesn't add feeding waste automatically — for hay fed in the field, waste can be significant (see our hay calculator, which does add a waste factor). For mixed rations in a bunk, waste is lower. Bump the rate slightly if you want to build in a margin.
Key terms
- Dry Matter Intake
- Feed consumed excluding water content; the basis for feed rates.
- Feed Rate
- Daily feed as a percent of body weight; ~2–3% typical.
- Ration
- The daily feed allotment for an animal or group.
Methodology, sources & limitations
This page shows the formula, assumptions, and limitations used for this estimate. Rates, thresholds, and other time-sensitive inputs can change, so verify them against the relevant official source before relying on a result.
For our review approach and the primary sources we consult, see the methodology and source policy. If you spot an outdated figure or formula, please contact us with a correction.