Livestock Ration Converter
Estimate daily feed amount per animal for goats, sheep, chickens, and rabbits.
Daily feed, per animal
- Total for the group
- —
How this calculator works
For ruminants (goats, sheep), daily dry matter intake is commonly estimated as a percentage of body weight — roughly 2-3%, varying by production stage (lactating animals eat more relative to body weight than dry/pregnant ones). For chickens and rabbits, daily feed intake is more consistent regardless of weight and is usually given as a flat amount per animal.
Where these numbers come from
Percent-of-body-weight intake ranges for goats and sheep, and flat daily feed amounts for layers and rabbits, are standard figures from extension livestock nutrition guides. Individual animals vary with breed, activity level, forage quality, and climate — use this as a starting estimate and adjust based on body condition.
Frequently asked questions
Why is goat feed based on body weight but chicken feed isn't?
Ruminant intake scales with body size and rumen capacity, so percent-of-body-weight is the standard way nutritionists estimate it. Chickens have a much more consistent daily intake regardless of typical breed weight differences, so a flat per-bird estimate works better.
Does this account for pasture or forage the animal already eats?
No — this is total daily dry matter or feed intake. If the animal gets significant pasture or hay separately, that counts toward this total rather than being purely additional to it.
This is also built into two other calculators, right?
Yes — the Chicken Feed Ration Calculator and Dairy Goat Feed Calculator include this same daily-intake math as part of their own results. This standalone page is for when you just need a quick feed-amount estimate without the full ration-mixing calculation.
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