Farm finance: separate sales, payments and feed use

See what was bought, used, sold and paid in the same period. Keep quantities, prices and supporting documents together, with outstanding payments clearly visible. HerdMobile helps you organise feed spending, animal sales and collections on your phone so the next cost review starts with records you can follow.

Edited by Ender Soyuince · About our content

2026-10-21

Why keep a sale and its payment separate?

An animal can leave before the buyer pays the full amount. Record the sale and each payment separately so the outstanding balance stays visible. Apply the same approach to milk: quantity, date and price describe the sale, while the payment date shows when the money arrived. Keep supporting documents with the relevant period. HerdMobile helps you bring sales and collections together for a clear view of what has been received and what remains to collect.

How should feed costs enter the review?

Record feed purchases, measured use and stock losses separately. Compare the stock balance with the feed in the barn to find losses or feeding that has yet to be entered. Multiply as-fed kilograms by the price per as-fed kilogram to find feed cost. The feed-cost guide shows the calculation with illustrative figures. Purdue’s enterprise-budget resources show how feed sits alongside other costs and income when reviewing a livestock enterprise.

Which comparison is worth repeating?

Compare periods using matching animal counts, durations, feed units and cost categories. Note changes in group composition, delivery prices or stock valuation so the calculation remains easy to follow. After the season, review actual sales, payments and feed use together. HerdMobile keeps these records on your phone so you can find unpaid balances and compare feed use and unit prices before buying the next batch.

Questions from the farm

How do I follow a sale and its collection?

Enter the sale amount and each payment received. HerdMobile brings collections and the remaining receivable together so you can follow the buyer’s balance.

Where do I start a farm budget?

Choose a production activity and period, such as this season’s lamb finishing. Add its expected output value and costs to plan purchases and compare the season’s result.

How do records help with accounting preparation?

HerdMobile keeps dated income, expenses and collections on your phone. Grouping these entries makes feed spending, sales and unpaid balances easier to find at month end.

How do I record a feed purchase?

Enter the feed, quantity and purchase price. The stock entry follows feed delivered, while the payment entry follows money paid.

How do I track an amount owed?

The sale or purchase amount sets the starting balance. Each dated payment reduces the amount still to collect or pay.

How do I calculate daily feed cost?

Multiply each feed’s daily quantity by its price on the same weight basis, then add the costs. HerdMobile calculates planned daily ration cost from the feeds and prices you select.

How do I calculate cost per animal?

Divide group cost by the animal count to get cost per head for that period. For daily cost per head in a stable group, also divide by the number of days.

How should I handle partial payments?

Add each payment with its date and amount. HerdMobile helps you follow the collected total and the balance left from the original sale.

How do I compare different currencies?

Convert amounts into one chosen currency using the rate for the comparison date. The original amounts still show what was agreed in each sale or purchase.

How do I organise a quote, invoice and payment?

A quote sets the offer, an invoice records the billed purchase and a payment records money transferred. Following all three shows the price agreed and the amount actually paid.

How do I review the farm account?

Compare the period’s sales, expenses and collections. Stock movements explain the feed bought, fed and lost, helping you see where money and feed went.

Which costs belong beside feed?

Veterinary care, labour, breeding, bedding and utilities can all contribute to production cost. Following these beside feed gives a fuller picture of the activity’s expenses.

How do I assess cost of gain?

Divide the chosen period’s costs by live-weight gain in that period. Example: a cost of 600 for 30 kg gained is 20 per kg of gain in the stated currency.

How do I keep planning prices current?

Refresh feed prices with the latest supplier offers before the next ration calculation. Daily cost in HerdMobile then reflects the prices entered for that plan.

How do I check a payment record?

Open the payment’s amount and date and compare them with the bank entry or receipt. Correcting a mistyped amount keeps the remaining balance useful for the next collection.

How HerdMobile helps

Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.

Milk, income and expenses in one overview — Keep the day’s work in view: open your animal records, plan feeding, follow farm accounts and manage your backup in HerdMobile.