Estimate cattle feed intake, days on feed, average daily gain, feed conversion, cost per kilogram gained and projected feedlot profit.
Enter your animal weights, feed prices, expected growth and selling price to compare different feeding periods before buying or finishing cattle.
This calculator estimates days on feed, total feed required, feed conversion ratio (FCR), break-even carcass price and projected profit or loss per head for South African cattle finishers. Enter live weights, average daily gain (ADG), feed price per ton and expected carcass price in rand per kilogram, then compare scenarios before buying weaners or locking in a ration.
See how profit changes if feed price, selling price or growth rate moves.
| Scenario | Profit/loss per animal | Total profit/loss | Break-even carcass price |
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Enter animal numbers, starting and target weights, expected average daily gain (ADG), feed intake as a percentage of body weight, feed price per ton, opening livestock value, dressing percentage, selling price, mortality allowance and other costs.
The calculator estimates days on feed, feed required per animal, feed conversion ratio (FCR), cost per kilogram gained, break-even carcass price, projected sale value and profit or loss per animal and for the batch. Sensitivity scenarios show how margin changes if feed price, selling price or growth rate moves.
All results are estimates only. Check figures against local feed prices, feed labels, animal condition, health and your own close-out records before buying cattle or committing to a ration.
Weight gain (kg) = target weight − starting weight
Days on feed = weight gain ÷ average daily gain (ADG), unless you enter a days override
Daily feed intake (kg) = average liveweight × (intake % ÷ 100)
Feed per animal (kg) = daily feed intake × days on feed × (1 + wastage % ÷ 100)
Feed conversion ratio (FCR) = feed per animal (with wastage) ÷ weight gained
Expected carcass weight (kg) = target liveweight × (dressing % ÷ 100)
Sale value per animal (R) = carcass weight × selling price per kg carcass
Total cost per animal (R) = opening value + feed cost + other costs + transport + mortality allowance
Profit or loss per animal (R) = sale value − total cost per animal
Break-even carcass price (R/kg) = total cost per animal ÷ expected carcass weight
A farmer plans 20 weaners from 200 kg to 480 kg live weight at 1.4 kg average daily gain (ADG) — about 200 days on feed. Opening value is R34 per kg live (R6 800 per head). Feed costs about R5 200 per animal. At 56% dressing, expected carcass is about 269 kg. At R52 per kg carcass, sale value is near R14 000 per head. Before other costs, gross margin is roughly R1 000 per animal — but 10 extra days on feed or a R2 drop in carcass price can erase that margin.
Enter the number of cattle, starting weight, target weight, expected average daily gain, feed intake, feed price and expected selling price.
The calculator then estimates:
Use realistic figures based on your own cattle, feed supplier, past performance and local market prices. Small changes in feed price, growth rate or selling price can have a large effect on projected profit.
Days on feed shows how long the cattle may need to reach the target weight at the expected average daily gain.
Feed cost per animal estimates the total feed expense for one animal over the full feeding period.
Feed conversion ratio shows how many kilograms of feed are required for each kilogram of live weight gained. A lower figure generally means better feed efficiency.
Cost per kilogram gained helps compare the feeding cost against the expected value of the added weight.
Projected profit or loss compares the estimated selling value with the purchase and feeding costs entered in the calculator.
These figures are estimates only. Actual results may differ because of animal health, breed, weather, feed quality, mortality, market prices and management.
Already feeding cattle? Use the Cattle Weight Gain and Feeder Progress Calculator to check whether the group is on track between weigh-ins.
Planning winter feed as well as finishing cattle? Use the Hay Bale Cost Calculator to estimate bale requirements and feeding costs.
For cattle, sheep or goats on veld, use the Livestock Supplement and Lick Calculator to calculate intake, bags required and total supplement cost.
The calculator divides the weight gain needed (target weight minus starting weight) by your expected average daily gain. You can override this with the optional days-on-feed field if you already know the feeding period.
Dressing percentage converts live weight to carcass weight for sale-value estimates. For example, 56% on a 450 kg animal gives an expected carcass of about 252 kg.
FCR shows how many kilograms of feed are needed for each kilogram of live weight gained. A lower FCR generally indicates better feed efficiency.
It reduces the effective number of animals when estimating total profit, so your plan allows for possible losses during the feeding period.
No. All results are planning estimates. Actual performance depends on animal health, breed, feed quality, weather, market prices and management.