Why ration matters on your farm

A balanced ration brings your animals’ needs together with the feeds available on the farm. Compare dry matter, energy, protein and minerals alongside cost and stock. HerdMobile helps you calculate with your own feeds, keep the daily plan clear and review changes using measured quantities and dated observations.

Edited by Ender Soyuince · About our content

2026-10-21

Compiled from open-access scientific sources.

How does dry matter help compare feeds?

Water contributes to feed weight, while dry matter describes the portion left after water is removed. Compare analyses on the same basis. For example, 10 kg of feed at an assumed 40% dry matter contains 4 kg of dry matter. Enter your own feed’s dry-matter percentage in HerdMobile to calculate its contribution to the daily ration. Use the same basis when comparing wet and dry feeds.

What does a balanced ration need to consider?

Energy, protein, fibre and minerals work together in the complete diet. NASEM’s dairy reference connects animal requirements with feed evaluation. Start with the species, body weight, production stage and measured output, then compare those needs with the available feeds. Review shortages and excesses together. Enter current forage values and the animal group in HerdMobile to calculate a ration from your own feeds and follow its daily cost.

Which shortcuts should you avoid?

Check water, feed access and the current forage lot when milk changes. Match mineral products to the target species, giving sheep their own assessment. Save each ration change with its start date and keep the earlier plan for comparison. The seasonal articles below turn these checks into practical routines for hot weather, winter stocks and Eid preparation. Choose the topic that matches today’s job and use HerdMobile to follow the feed, stock and animal records behind it.

How large a cost is feed, and why does balance matter?

University of Minnesota Extension’s US dairy article of 11 March 2022 gives feed as 40–50% of total production cost. For your own farm, divide feed spending by total production costs from the same period. Nutrient shortages and excesses can affect milk, growth, reproduction and health. The linked total mixed ration guidance explains how balanced nutrient supply supports feeding management; make feed changes gradually and follow daily intake in HerdMobile.

How does HerdMobile use your feeds and stock?

HerdMobile calculates a ration using the selected animal profile, your targets and your chosen feeds. Stock settings let you include the feed available on the farm and identify purchase needs. Check quantities, feed analyses, prices and animal details before calculating. The daily plan shows how much of each selected feed to offer and what it costs per animal. Keep measured feed use and animal observations beside it to review the plan as conditions change.

Questions from the farm

How does a useful ration start?

Choose the animal species and production stage, add the feeds available and enter your prices. HerdMobile calculates daily feed quantities and cost per animal.

How do I calculate dry matter?

Multiply feed weight by its dry-matter fraction. Example: 20 kg of feed at 50% dry matter contains 10 kg of dry matter.

How do I convert dry matter to as-fed weight?

Divide dry-matter weight by the dry-matter fraction. Example: 10 kg DM from a feed at 50% dry matter requires 20 kg as fed.

Why does animal stage matter?

A growing animal, a milking animal and a pregnant animal have different feeding needs. Selecting the production stage gives HerdMobile the animal information for that ration.

How do I compare two feed offers?

Compare price per kilogram of dry matter as well as the nutrient profile. Delivery charges and usable feed quantity also affect the cost of each offer.

What belongs in the mineral assessment?

Forage, compound feeds and mineral supplements all contribute minerals. Their daily quantities and mineral contents together determine the full ration’s mineral supply.

How should I prepare a sheep ration?

Select sheep and choose products labelled for sheep. HerdMobile applies sheep-specific copper checks when calculating the ration.

What should I check when milk records change?

Look at milk from the same animals over matching milking intervals, then compare feed delivered, leftovers and water access. HerdMobile keeps milk entries beside the animal history.

How do I use a forage analysis?

Dry matter converts the feed’s wet weight into dry weight. Protein, fibre and mineral results describe what that dry matter supplies to the ration.

How can I track a ration change?

Compare the old and new daily feed quantities, then follow milk, appetite and trough leftovers over the following days. Dated animal notes keep those observations together.

Which mineral label details help most?

The target species, nutrient content and mixing directions tell you which animals the mineral product is intended for and how to use it. Follow the product’s stated mixing rate.

How do I evaluate a lower-priced ingredient?

Compare what each kilogram supplies, then include transport and storage losses. HerdMobile shows how the selected feed quantities and your prices affect daily ration cost.

How does feed stock help planning?

Your stock shows which feeds are available for the plan. Compare the daily quantities in HerdMobile with the feed left in store to organise the next purchase.

How do I check the plan against daily work?

Weigh the amounts delivered and compare them with the plan. Leftovers show what remained; milk, appetite and animal notes help you follow the feeding period.

Where can I read the scientific basis?

Compiled from open-access scientific sources. The linked NASEM and university extension publications explain the nutrition behind the feed references.

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.

See how many kilos of each feed to give — Keep the day’s work in view: open your animal records, plan feeding, follow farm accounts and manage your backup in HerdMobile.