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Nutrition, Feeding & WaterFeed Cost Per Cow Per Day
Feed cost per cow per day is a simple number that tells you a lot, if you calculate it the same way every time. Here is how to build it and how to use it.
Key points
- Calculate cost per cow per day the same way each time.
- Include delivery, shrink, refusals and home-grown feed costs.
- Look at feed cost alongside milk, not by itself.
- Break results out by cow group.
- Track trends monthly and avoid reacting to one number.
Why this number matters
Feed is usually the largest cost on a dairy. Knowing what each cow's ration costs per day lets you spot trends, compare groups and check whether extra feed is paying for itself in milk.
The number is only useful if you calculate it consistently. Pick a method, write it down and use it every month.
The basic calculation
Start with the ration. For each ingredient, multiply the amount fed per cow per day by its cost per unit, then add them up. Use the as-fed amounts the cow actually receives, and match the units of cost, such as per ton or per hundredweight, to the way the feed is bought.
Your nutritionist can give you the ration and help you run the figures. Many ration programs calculate cost automatically, but check that the prices entered match what you really pay.
- List every ingredient in the ration for the group.
- Use the amount fed per cow per day.
- Use your actual delivered cost, including hauling.
- Add minerals, additives and any purchased supplement.
- Divide by the number of cows in that group.
Include what often gets forgotten
Many farms leave out shrink, refusals and waste. Feed that is delivered but not eaten still costs money. Home-grown feed also needs a fair cost per unit, which includes growing, harvesting and storing it.
Be honest about these hidden items. A cost per cow that ignores them looks better than reality.
Compare against milk, not alone
A low feed cost is not always good. Cutting feed can reduce milk and cost you more than you save. A better view looks at feed cost together with milk produced and the income it brings.
Ask your nutritionist how to compare feed cost with milk yield and components for each group. Milk prices and buyer programs vary, so use your own milk check and ask your buyer for clarification on how it is calculated.
Look at groups, not just the herd average
A herd average hides differences. Fresh cows, peak cows, late lactation cows and dry cows have different needs and costs. Calculate by group where you can.
If late lactation cows are eating the same expensive ration as high producers, there may be money to save by feeding them differently while still meeting their needs.
Track it over time
Record the figure monthly and note events beside it, such as a feed price change, a new forage, a weather swing or a ration adjustment. After a few months the pattern becomes clear.
Review the results with your nutritionist and your farm advisor. Do not make large ration cuts based on one month of data.
Common mistakes and what to ask
Common errors are using outdated prices, forgetting refusals, mixing up as-fed and dry matter amounts, and comparing farms with different systems as if they were the same.
Questions to bring to your nutritionist:
- Are the prices in our ration program current?
- How do we account for shrink and refusals?
- What is cost per cow by group?
- How does feed cost compare with milk income?
- Where might we be overfeeding?
Sources and further reading
- Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY
- University of Minnesota Extension
- Penn State Extension
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.