Goat Feed Calculator
Daily hay and grain plus monthly hay for any goat herd.
What it does
Goats browse all day and waste what they dislike. Hay math keeps racks full without burying the barn in stems.
The tool above feeds 4 % of body weight in hay. Two 120 lb dry goats need 9.6 lb a day with no grain, or 288 lb a month. The metric match is 54 kg toward 4.3 kg a day.
Milkers earn grain. About a pound each daily supports the pail in this base plan, while dry herds hold condition on hay, minerals, and browse.
Weight averages carry the math. A 120 lb doe and a 60 lb kid do not eat alike, so split groups when sizes spread wide.
Lofts and bins close the loop. Monthly hay sets the stack, grain stays sealed against goats that break in, and water stays clean beside both.
How to use
- Pick imperial (lb) or metric (kg).
- Enter goat count.
- Enter average weight.
- Pick dry or milking.
- Read hay first, then grain.
- Read monthly hay and fill the loft.
Formula
- goats
- Head count.
- weight
- Average body weight.
- milk
- Dry or milking herd.
Weight is lb imperial and kg metric. Monthly hay is daily times 30 for bin and buy planning.
Worked example
Example: 2 dry goats at 120 lb
Imperial defaults: 2 dry goats at 120 lb. These are also the default values, so the page opens on this answer.
- Herd: 2 goats at 120 lb, dry.
- Hay: 2 x 120 x 0.04 = 9.6 lb per day.
- Grain: dry herd, so 0 lb.
- Month: 9.6 x 30 = 288 lb hay.
- Tool shows 9.6 lb hay per day, 0 lb grain per day, 288 lb hay per month.
Reference table
| Herd | Daily hay | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 2 at 120 lb | 9.6 lb | 288 lb |
| 4 at 100 lb | 16 lb | 480 lb |
| 2 at 54 kg | 4.3 kg | 130 kg |
| 4 at 45 kg | 7.2 kg | 216 kg |
Limits
- Base plan only. Milk peak needs tuning.
- Pasture quality swings hay needs.
- Kids and bucks need grouped rations.
- Parasites and teeth need checks.
Common mistakes
- Feeding one group rate to mixed sizes.
- Grain to dry herds that hold condition.
- No minerals beside the rack.
- Storing grain where goats break in.
- Skipping water in freezes.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
4 milkers at 100 lb?
Hay is 4 x 100 x 0.04 = 16 lb per day. Grain is 4 x 1 = 4 lb. Monthly hay is 16 x 30 = 480 lb.
3 dry goats at 50 kg metric?
Hay is 3 x 50 x 0.04 = 6 kg per day. Grain is 0. Monthly hay is 6 x 30 = 180 kg.
Questions
How much hay per day?
Multiply goats by weight by 4 %. Here 2 x 120 x 0.04 = 9.6 lb hay a day.
How much grain?
Milking does earn about 1 lb (0.5 kg) grain each daily. Dry herds earn none in this plan.
Why 4 %?
Four percent of body weight in hay dry matter suits many herds. Rich pasture and browse trim the rack.
Minerals?
Free choice minerals and clean water beside hay. Baking soda on the side suits many managers.
Does milk stage matter?
Yes. Late gestation, peak milk, and cold snaps all raise needs past the base.
Does this treat illness?
No. Bloat, worms, and thin coats need vet care.