Feed Cost
Calculator
A quick estimate of how much feed a cow needs each day, and what it will cost you, based on her weight and how much milk she's giving.
Estimate Your Feed Cost
If you grow your own forage, enter what it would cost you to buy it — this gives a more realistic cost per litre.
This is a starting estimate using the prices above and general rules of thumb — actual needs vary by breed, stage of lactation, body condition and feed quality. KilimoDairy's Ration Planner builds a fully balanced ration for a specific cow, with exact quantities and cost.
How this estimate is calculated
A dairy cow needs to eat roughly 2.5–3% of her body weight in dry matter every day just for maintenance, plus more to support milk production. This calculator uses simple, commonly-used rules of thumb to split that into dairy meal (concentrate) and Napier grass (forage), using the prices you enter for your area.
This is a starting estimate, not a balanced ration. The actual amount and mix depends on the cow's breed, body condition, stage of lactation, whether she's pregnant, and the quality of the feeds available on your farm.
Why feed cost matters most
- Feed is typically the single largest cost on a dairy farm — often well over half of total expenses.
- Underfeeding a high-yielding cow costs you milk; overfeeding wastes money on feed she doesn't need.
- "Feed cost per litre" is one of the most useful numbers for comparing how efficiently your cows are converting feed into milk.
Get a real ration for each cow
KilimoDairy's Ration Planner uses a cow's breed, weight, days in milk and yield to build a fully balanced ration — with exact feed quantities and cost. There's also a Steam-Up Planner for cows close to calving, and a day-by-day Calf Feeding guide from birth to weaning.