Goat Feed Calculator
Calculate daily hay, grain supplement, Dry Matter Intake (DMI), total herd hay tonnage, 50 lb grain bag counts, and feed costs for dairy and meat goats.
Calculate Goat Herd Feed Requirements
Enter average goat weight, herd head count, production stage, hay DM %, feeding days, and grain bag price.
Calculation Results
Calculated using NRC small ruminant goat nutrition standards: \text{Hay As-Fed} = \frac{\text{Total DMI} - (\text{Grain Supplement} \times 0.88)}{\text{Hay DM \% / 100}}
Quick Summary
The Goat Feed Calculator evaluates daily Dry Matter Intake ($\text{DMI} = \text{Weight} \times \text{DMI \%}$) per head, as-fed hay, commercial grain supplements, 50 lb bag orders, and monthly herd feed budgets.
Formula Explanation
\text{Total DMI per Goat (lbs)} = \text{Goat Weight (lbs)} \times \left(\frac{\text{DMI \%}}{100}\right)
\text{Hay As-Fed (lbs/head/day)} = \frac{\text{Total DMI} - (\text{Grain Supplement} \times 0.88)}{\text{Hay DM \% / 100}}
\text{Commercial 50 lb Grain Bags} = \left\lceil \frac{\text{Grain/head/day} \times \text{Head Count} \times \text{Days}}{50 \text{ lbs/bag}} \right\rceilHow It Works
Goats possess a higher metabolic rate per unit of body weight than sheep or cattle, consuming 3.0% to 5.0% of body weight in Dry Matter Intake (DMI). The Goat Feed Calculator calculates exact daily grass/alfalfa hay and grain concentrate requirements for dairy does, Boer meat goats, and growing kids.
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Practical Problem: A herd of 30 lactating dairy does averaging 130 lbs requires 4.5% DMI daily, supplemented with 1.5 lbs of 16% goat grain daily ($18/bag). Hay is 88% DM grass/alfalfa. Calculate daily feed per goat, 30-day hay tonnage, and grain bag count.
- Step 1: Daily DMI per doe: $130\text{ lbs} \times 0.045 = \mathbf{5.85\text{ lbs DMI/head/day}}$.
- Step 2: Grain DMI (1.5 lbs grain at 88% DM): $1.5 \times 0.88 = 1.32\text{ lbs grain DMI}$.
- Step 3: Daily as-fed hay per doe (88% DM): $(5.85 - 1.32) / 0.88 = \mathbf{5.15\text{ lbs hay/doe/day}}$ ($6.65\text{ lbs total as-fed}$).
- Step 4: Total 30-day herd hay tonnage: $(5.15 \times 30 \times 30) / 2,000 = \mathbf{2.32\text{ short tons hay}}$.
- Step 5: Total 30-day grain bags (50 lb): $(1.5 \times 30 \times 30) / 50 = 1,350 / 50 = \mathbf{27\text{ bags of grain}}$ ($\$486\text{ grain cost}$).
Real-World Calculation Examples
Scenario 1: Lactating Dairy Doe (130 lbs, 4.5% DMI)
Parameters: 130 lbs, 4.5% DMI, 1.5 lbs grain, 30 head
Result: 5.15 lbs hay + 1.50 lbs grain/doe/day (2.32 tons hay + 27 grain bags/month).
Scenario 2: Dry Maintenance Doe (130 lbs, 2.5% DMI)
Parameters: 130 lbs, 2.5% DMI, 0 lbs grain
Result: 3.69 lbs hay/doe/day (1.66 tons hay/month per 30 head).
Scenario 3: Growing Boer Meat Kid (60 lbs, 4.0% DMI)
Parameters: 60 lbs, 4.0% DMI, 1.0 lb grain
Result: 1.73 lbs hay + 1.00 lb grain/kid/day (Rapid meat growth).
Scenario 4: Flushing Does Before Breeding
Parameters: 130 lbs, 3.5% DMI, 1.0 lb grain
Result: 4.17 lbs hay + 1.00 lb grain/doe/day (Boosts kidding percentage).
Key Benefits of Using This Calculator
50 lb Commercial Grain Bag Count
Calculates exact 50 lb feed bag counts required for monthly farm store feed orders.
Small Ruminant High DMI Model
Applies specialized NRC goat dry matter intake rules (up to 4.5–5.0% of body weight for dairy does).
Dairy vs Boer Meat Goat Profiles
Includes pre-configured nutrition profiles for dairy does, Boer meat kids, and maintenance bucks.
100% Free & Client-Side
Executes locally in your browser with zero latency or web server transmission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many pounds of hay does a goat eat per day?
A 130 lb adult goat eats 3.5 to 5.5 lbs of hay per day depending on lactation and activity level (2.5% to 4.5% of body weight in DMI).
Why do goats require a higher Calcium-to-Phosphorus ratio than sheep?
High-producing dairy goats require a 2:1 Calcium-to-Phosphorus ratio to support heavy milk production and prevent milk fever (hypocalcemia).
What is urinary calculi in wether goats?
Urinary calculi (kidney/bladder stones) occurs in castrated male goats fed excess grain or phosphorus. Maintain a 2:1 Ca:P ratio and add ammonium chloride to grain feed.
What Crude Protein % is needed for lactating dairy does?
Lactating dairy does require 16% to 18% Crude Protein (CP) in their daily DMI ration.
Can goats eat alfalfa hay?
Yes — high-quality alfalfa hay (18–22% CP, high Calcium) is ideal for lactating dairy does and growing kids, but grass hay is preferred for dry does and wethers.
How much water does a dairy goat drink per day?
A lactating dairy doe drinks 2 to 3 gallons of fresh water per day; dry goats drink 1 to 1.5 gallons daily.
What poisonous plants should be removed from goat pastures?
Remove wild cherry (cyanide risk), azaleas, rhododendrons, yew, milkweed, and nightshade from goat grazing areas.
How many 50 lb small square bales of hay does a goat eat per month?
A 130 lb doe eats approximately three 50 lb small square bales of hay per month (~150 lbs hay/month).
What is copper requirement for goats?
Unlike sheep, goats require high copper levels (10 to 40 ppm). Copper deficiency causes rough coat, fishtail, and anemia; use goat-specific mineral mixes!
What is enterotoxemia (overeating disease) in goats?
Enterotoxemia is a fatal bacterial infection (Clostridium perfringens type C & D) triggered by sudden overconsumption of grain. Vaccinate with CDT vaccine!