How to Analyse Your Farm's Feed History: Cost Versus Output by Species and Stage
Put twelve months of feed deliveries next to what each group produced, split by species and stage. You get feed cost per unit of output, which shows where to look before you change supplier or specification.
Short answer · Updated October 2026
Short answer: How to Analyse Your Farm's Feed History: Cost Versus Output by Species and Stage
Short answer: Put twelve months of feed deliveries next to what each group produced, split by species and stage. You get feed cost per unit of output, which shows where to look before you change supplier or specification.
Key takeaways
- This guide turns the paperwork you already have, such as delivery notes, invoices and production sheets, into one table of feed used, feed cost and output per group.
- - Feed deliveries: date, product, tonnes, price and lot number - Opening and closing stock for each period - Animal numbers by group and stage, including mortality - Output: kg sold or weighed, litres, eggs or harvest weight - Which feed…
- 1. Choose a period: one flock, one lactation month or one production cycle.
- A broiler flock used 180,000 kg of feed costing 0.50 per kg delivered (90,000 total) and sold 110,000 kg live weight.
- - No stock counts: use deliveries only and mark the result as approximate.
FeedMatch Editorial Desk
Editorial Team
Short answer: Put twelve months of feed deliveries next to what each group produced, split by species and stage. You get feed cost per unit of output, which shows where to look before you change supplier or specification.
What this guide helps you do
This guide turns the paperwork you already have, such as delivery notes, invoices and production sheets, into one table of feed used, feed cost and output per group. It is the base for every other guide in the series and for a comparable RFQ.
Which farm records do you need?
- Feed deliveries: date, product, tonnes, price and lot number
- Opening and closing stock for each period
- Animal numbers by group and stage, including mortality
- Output: kg sold or weighed, litres, eggs or harvest weight
- Which feed went to which group (or a reasonable split)
How do you work through it, step by step?
- Choose a period: one flock, one lactation month or one production cycle.
- Feed used = opening stock + deliveries − closing stock.
- Split feed used by group and stage.
- Feed cost = feed used × price actually paid, delivered.
- Divide by output to get feed cost per kg, litre or egg.
- Compare periods and groups; mark any change in feed, supplier or season.
Worksheet
| Period | Group / stage | Feed used (kg) | Feed cost | Output | Cost per unit |
|---|
Worked example (hypothetical)
A broiler flock used 180,000 kg of feed costing 0.50 per kg delivered (90,000 total) and sold 110,000 kg live weight. Feed cost per kg live weight = 90,000 ÷ 110,000 = 0.82. *All figures are invented for illustration. Use your own records; this is not a benchmark or target.*
What if some data is missing?
- No stock counts: use deliveries only and mark the result as approximate.
- Mixed groups on one feed: split by head count × days and say so.
- No output weights: use sale invoices or a sample weighing until scales are in place.
- Prices missing: use invoices; never fill gaps with market averages.
Where to go next
Use the FCR and feed cost calculator, the landed cost calculator and the traceability readiness checklist.
Ready to buy against your own numbers? Send a feed RFQ with species, stage, volume, specification and delivery window. Free for buyers, no obligation; assisted sourcing applies to B2B requirements of about USD 250,000 or more.
Farm data series: Reducing Feed Waste on the Farm · Estimating FCR and Feed Cost per Unit from the Farm Reports You Already Have · Upgrading Your Feeding Routine · Planning Future Feed Purchases
Sources and limits
- FAO/IFIF Good Practices for the Feed Sector (2010)
- FeedMatch does not formulate feed or give veterinary advice, and does not guarantee savings, FCR or output. Confirm nutrition decisions with a qualified nutritionist.
Frequently asked questions
- How far back should I analyse feed records?
- At least one full cycle or twelve months, so seasonal and stage effects are visible.
- Should I use the invoice price or the delivered cost?
- Delivered cost: include freight and any handling so suppliers are compared fairly.
- Can I compare my numbers with other farms?
- Only with care. Breed, system and climate differ; compare your own periods first.
- What if one group shares feed with another?
- Split feed by animal-days and note the assumption in the worksheet.
Feed industry regions we work with
Feed procurement is local before it is global: raw material basis, freight and installation costs change by region. These are the areas buyers most often name when defining a feed project in English.
United States
Cities and provinces
Iowa · Nebraska · Georgia · Arkansas · Texas · North Carolina
Corn and soybean meal basis with large integrated poultry, swine and dairy operations.
United States →United Kingdom and Ireland
Cities and provinces
East Anglia · Yorkshire · Lincolnshire · Northern Ireland · Munster
Compound feed and imported protein logistics through east coast and Irish Sea ports.
United Kingdom and Ireland →Gulf and East Africa import markets
Cities and provinces
Jeddah · Dubai · Mombasa · Djibouti
Import-driven feed supply where landed cost and port logistics dominate the decision.
Gulf and East Africa import markets →FeedMatch is supplier-neutral. Regional context helps define the requirement; pricing always comes from manufacturer quotations.