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☀️ Drought Feeding Calculator — Supplementary Feed Budget

Calculate supplementary feed requirements, costs, and budget during dry conditions. Plan ahead to avoid running out of feed or money.

Quick answer: Daily supplement = (Intake requirement − Pasture available) × Animals. For 100 cows needing 15kg/day with 5kg pasture = 10kg supplement/cow/day = 1 tonne/day. Budget: destock when feed cost > $3-4/cow/day.

☀️ Calculate Drought Feed Requirements

Total head requiring feed
Estimate from pasture assessment
Expected dry period
Hay $200-400, Grain $250-400, Pellets $400-600
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Daily Supplement (tonnes)
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Total Feed Needed
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Total Feed Cost
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Cost per Animal per Day

📐 How Drought Feeding Is Calculated

Supplement per animal = Daily requirement − Pasture available
Daily total = Supplement per animal × Animals ÷ 1000 (tonnes)
Total cost = Daily total × Days × Cost per tonne
  1. Assess pasture availability — kg DM per animal per day
  2. Calculate feed deficit — requirement minus pasture
  3. Multiply by numbers and days — total tonnes needed
  4. Calculate cost — tonnes × price per tonne
  5. Compare to destocking value — make economic decision

📊 Worked Example

100 beef cows need 15kg DM/day, pasture provides 5kg. Drought expected 90 days. Hay $300/t.

Deficit per cow = 15 − 5 = 10 kg/day
Daily total = 100 × 10 = 1,000 kg = 1 tonne/day
Total feed = 1 × 90 = 90 tonnes
Total cost = 90 × $300 = $27,000
Cost per cow per day = $300/t × 0.01t = $3.00/cow/day

At $3/cow/day for 90 days, cost is $270/cow. If cow value is $1,500, destocking may be better if drought extends beyond 5 months.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Daily supplement = (Intake requirement − Pasture available) × Animals. Example: 100 cows need 15kg/day, pasture 5kg = 10kg supplement/cow/day = 1,000kg/day total.

Beef cow: 10-15kg DM/day. Sheep: 1-1.5kg/day. For 100 cows for 90 days = 100 × 10kg × 90 = 90 tonnes of supplement.

Grain ($250-400/t) provides most energy per dollar. Hay ($200-400/t) good for fibre. Compare $/megajoule of energy, not just $/tonne.

Calculate feeding cost vs selling price. If feed cost > animal value + re-buying cost, destock. Trigger: when feed cost exceeds $3-4/cow/day, destock.

🔗 Related Calculators

🌾 Livestock Feed📅 Grazing Days🐄 Stocking Rate💰 Farm Profit