Farming livestock
Livestock feed cost per weight gain
Measure feed-only cost per pound gained for the same closed group and observation period.
Your inputs
Complete the fields for your selected method. Zero means intentionally zero, not unknown. Currency selection labels amounts; it does not convert exchange rates.
How this calculation works
group gain = heads × (ending average live weight - starting average live weight); feed-only cost/gain = feed expense / group gain
This is an enterprise-budget worksheet using supplied quantities, prices and assumptions. No feeding ration, treatment, stocking rate, fertilizer, pesticide, yield forecast or equipment suitability is prescribed. Animal identity and weighing basis must match. Adjust records outside this tool for animals entering or leaving the group. This excludes animal acquisition, veterinary, labor and other costs, so it is not total cost of gain.
What information do I need?
Use records for the same job, equipment or accounting period. Only the fields for your selected entry method are required. An unknown amount is not zero.
Input definitions and where to find them
- Same animals measured at both endpoints (head): Consistent-cohort scale tickets and feed expenses. Owner records or explicit assumption; no account connection or maintained rate tables required.
- Starting average live weight (lb): Consistent-cohort scale tickets and feed expenses. Owner records or explicit assumption; no account connection or maintained rate tables required.
- Ending average live weight (lb): Consistent-cohort scale tickets and feed expenses. Owner records or explicit assumption; no account connection or maintained rate tables required.
- Total feed expense for those animals and period (selected currency): Consistent-cohort scale tickets and feed expenses. Owner records or explicit assumption; no account connection or maintained rate tables required.
Use the Where to find this value controls beside the inputs for available work-it-out helpers. Estimates remain your assumptions; a helper does not verify the source figures.
Worked example
Example amounts use US dollars (USD).
Example answer: Feed-only cost per pound of live weight gain is $0.54 for the illustrative inputs below.
Example inputs
- Same animals measured at both endpoints: 20 head
- Starting average live weight: 440.924524369755 lb
- Ending average live weight: 551.155655462194 lb
- Total feed expense for those animals and period: $1,200.00
- Feed-only cost per pound of live weight gain
- $0.54
- Measured group live weight gain
- 2,204.62 lb
These illustrative values are not recommended rates or industry averages. Replace every example input with your own figures.
Use the result well
Compare observed feeding expense efficiency.
Keep inputs on the same scope and time basis. Calculations retain precision internally; displayed values generally round to two decimal places, with extra precision for very small values and whole-unit rounding where required. Economic comparisons describe your supplied assumptions and do not guarantee future results.
This tool provides business arithmetic. It does not approve engineering designs, establish legal or tax treatment, select equipment or certify safe operating conditions.