Feedlot Profit Calculator
Enter any 3 values to calculate the missing variable
| Metric | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Average Daily Gain (ADG) | 0 lbs | Average weight gain per day |
| Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) | 0 | Pounds of feed per pound of gain |
| Days on Feed (DOF) | 0 days | Total days cattle were fed |
| Finish Weight | 0 lbs | Average weight at sale |
| Cost of Gain | $0.00/lb | Total feed cost divided by total gain |
Complete Guide to Feedlot Profit Calculator
Learn how to maximize your cattle feeding returns with our comprehensive calculator tool
Running a successful feedlot operation requires careful financial planning and analysis. Our Feedlot Profit Calculator is designed to help cattle producers understand their profitability by calculating all major cost and revenue factors in one easy-to-use tool.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explain every aspect of the calculator, from basic inputs to advanced performance metrics, with simple examples and formulas anyone can understand.
What is a Feedlot Profit Calculator?
Definition
A Feedlot Profit Calculator is a specialized financial tool that helps cattle producers analyze the profitability of their feeding operations by calculating revenues, costs, and key performance metrics.
This calculator is essential for:
- Financial planning: Estimating potential profits before purchasing cattle
- Cost analysis: Identifying areas where costs can be reduced
- Performance tracking: Monitoring key efficiency metrics over time
- Decision making: Comparing different feeding strategies and purchase options
Try Our Feedlot Profit Calculator
Experience the power of detailed feedlot analysis with our interactive calculator. Input your costs and performance metrics to get instant profitability calculations.
Key Features of Our Calculator
Comprehensive Cost Analysis
Track all major expense categories including feed, veterinary, labor, facility, and interest costs to get a complete picture of your operation.
Performance Metrics
Calculate key efficiency indicators like Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), and Cost of Gain.
Multi-Currency Support
Work with your preferred currency - our calculator supports 50+ currencies with real-time conversion.
Calculation History
Save and compare different scenarios to track performance over time and make better decisions.
Understanding the Input Fields
Input Costs Section
Cattle Purchase Price
What it is: The cost to purchase your feeder cattle
Example: $1,200 per head or $1.50 per pound
Formula: Total Purchase Cost = Price × Number of Heads (or Price × Weight × Number of Heads)
Total Feed Costs
What it is: All expenses for feed, including grain, hay, supplements, and additives
Example: $400 per head for the entire feeding period
Tip: Track this carefully as it's typically your largest expense
Veterinary & Health Expenses
What it is: Costs for vaccinations, medications, vet visits, and health treatments
Example: $45 per head for complete health program
Labor Costs
What it is: Wages and benefits for employees managing the cattle
Example: $25 per head for feeding period labor
Bedding & Maintenance
What it is: Costs for facility upkeep, bedding materials, and utilities
Example: $15 per head for bedding and facility costs
Interest on Operating Capital
What it is: The cost of borrowing money to finance your operation
Example: $30 per head at 6% interest for 6 months
Interest Calculation Formula
Interest = Principal × Rate × Time
Example: $1,200 purchase price × 6% × 0.5 years = $36
Death Loss Allowance
What it is: Expected percentage of cattle that won't make it to market
Example: 2% death loss means 2 out of 100 cattle won't be sold
Industry Average: 1-3% for well-managed feedlots
Revenue Streams Section
Cattle Sale Price
What it is: The price you expect to receive when selling finished cattle
Example: $1,500 per head or $1.10 per pound
Market Factors: Live weight, grade, yield, and current market conditions
Manure Sales Revenue
What it is: Income from selling manure as fertilizer
Example: $5 per head from manure sales
Note: Often overlooked but can provide significant additional income
Cull Animal Sales Revenue
What it is: Income from selling animals that don't meet market specifications
Example: $10 per head from cull sales
Performance Metrics Section
Average Daily Gain (ADG)
What it is: How much weight cattle gain each day on average
Example: 3.2 pounds per day
ADG Formula
ADG = (Finish Weight - Start Weight) ÷ Days on Feed
Example: (1,400 lbs - 800 lbs) ÷ 180 days = 3.33 lbs/day
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)
What it is: How efficiently cattle convert feed to weight gain
Example: 6.0 (6 pounds of feed per 1 pound of gain)
FCR Formula
FCR = Total Feed Fed ÷ Total Weight Gained
Example: 3,600 lbs feed ÷ 600 lbs gain = 6.0 FCR
Industry Target: 5.5-6.5 for finishing cattle
Days on Feed (DOF)
What it is: Number of days cattle are in the feedlot
Example: 150-200 days for typical finishing period
Finish Weight
What it is: Target weight when cattle are ready for market
Example: 1,400 pounds
Market Standard: 1,300-1,500 pounds depending on market preferences
Number of Heads
What it is: Total number of cattle in the feeding group
Example: 100 head for a small pen, 5,000+ for large commercial lots
Understanding the Results
Total Revenue
What it is: Sum of all income sources from cattle and byproducts
Formula: Cattle Sales + Manure Sales + Cull Sales
Total Costs
What it is: Sum of all expenses incurred during feeding period
Formula: Purchase Cost + Feed + Veterinary + Labor + Facility + Interest
Net Profit
What it is: Your actual profit after all costs
Net Profit Formula
Net Profit = Total Revenue - Total Costs
Example: $150,000 revenue - $135,000 costs = $15,000 profit
Gross Margin
What it is: Percentage of revenue remaining after direct costs
Gross Margin Formula
Gross Margin = (Revenue - Direct Costs) ÷ Revenue × 100
Example: ($150,000 - $120,000) ÷ $150,000 × 100 = 20%
Net Margin
What it is: Percentage of revenue remaining as profit
Net Margin Formula
Net Margin = Net Profit ÷ Revenue × 100
Example: $15,000 ÷ $150,000 × 100 = 10%
Profit per Head
What it is: Average profit for each animal
Profit per Head Formula
Profit per Head = Net Profit ÷ Number of Heads
Example: $15,000 ÷ 100 head = $150 per head
Cost of Gain
What it is: Cost to add one pound of weight to an animal
Cost of Gain Formula
Cost of Gain = Total Feed Cost ÷ Total Weight Gained
Example: $40,000 feed cost ÷ 60,000 lbs gain = $0.67 per lb
Industry Average: $0.60-$0.90 per pound depending on feed prices
Complete Calculation Example
Scenario: 100 head of cattle purchased at 800 lbs, finished at 1,400 lbs
- Purchase Price: $1.50/lb × 800 lbs × 100 head = $120,000
- Feed Costs: $400 × 100 head = $40,000
- Other Costs: $115 × 100 head = $11,500
- Total Costs: $120,000 + $40,000 + $11,500 = $171,500
- Sale Revenue: $1.10/lb × 1,400 lbs × 98 head (2% death loss) = $150,920
- Byproduct Revenue: $15 × 100 head = $1,500
- Total Revenue: $150,920 + $1,500 = $152,420
- Net Profit: $152,420 - $171,500 = -$19,080 (Loss)
Analysis: This example shows a loss situation, highlighting the importance of managing purchase price, feed costs, or achieving better sale prices.
Pro Tip: Break-Even Analysis
Use the calculator to determine your break-even sale price. Adjust the sale price until net profit reaches zero - this tells you the minimum price needed to cover all costs.
Break-Even Formula
Break-Even Price = Total Costs ÷ (Finish Weight × Number of Heads × (1 - Death Loss %))
Example: $171,500 ÷ (1,400 lbs × 100 head × 0.98) = $1.25 per lb
Quick Calculator Explained
The Quick Calculator provides a simplified way to estimate profitability when you already know your total revenue and costs:
Quick Profit Formula
Enter any three values to calculate the fourth:
Revenue - Costs = Profit
Profit ÷ Heads = Profit per Head
Quick Calculator Example
Known Values:
- Total Revenue: $152,420
- Total Costs: $171,500
- Number of Heads: 100
Calculated:
- Net Profit: $152,420 - $171,500 = -$19,080 (Loss)
- Profit per Head: -$19,080 ÷ 100 = -$190.80 per head
Frequently Asked Questions
A profit of $100-$300 per head is generally considered good, but this varies significantly with market conditions, feed costs, and operation efficiency. Use the calculator to determine realistic targets for your specific situation.
The calculator provides highly accurate estimates when you input correct data. It uses standard industry formulas and accounts for all major cost and revenue factors. However, actual results may vary due to unforeseen circumstances.
Most feedlots achieve FCR between 5.5 and 6.5 for finishing cattle. This means 5.5 to 6.5 pounds of feed are needed to produce 1 pound of weight gain. Lower numbers indicate better efficiency.
Use the calculator's history feature to run multiple scenarios with different price assumptions. This helps you understand how sensitive your profitability is to market changes and plan accordingly.
Well-managed feedlots typically experience 1-3% death loss. Operations with excellent health programs may achieve less than 1%, while problems can push this above 3%.
Focus on the three biggest factors: 1) Purchase price of feeder cattle, 2) Feed efficiency (FCR), and 3) Sale price of finished cattle. Small improvements in these areas have significant impact on profitability.
Gross margin considers only direct costs (purchase and feed), while net margin includes all costs. Gross margin shows operational efficiency, while net margin shows overall profitability.
Use the formula: Break-Even Price = Total Costs ÷ (Finish Weight × Number of Heads × (1 - Death Loss %)). This tells you the minimum price needed to cover all expenses.
Cost of gain typically ranges from $0.60 to $0.90 per pound, depending on feed prices, efficiency, and other factors. Lower numbers indicate better cost control.
Most finishing programs run 150-200 days, depending on starting weight, desired finish weight, and feeding program. Shorter periods reduce costs but may not achieve optimal finish.
Yes, the calculator works for all cattle types including beef breeds, dairy beef, and specialty breeds. Just adjust the inputs to match your specific animals and market targets.
Recalculate whenever significant changes occur in: feed prices, cattle markets, health status, or feeding strategy. Regular monthly analysis helps track performance trends.