Livestock Feed Requirements by Animal Type
This page provides a comprehensive comparison of daily feed requirements for 20 common livestock species. The table below shows the average body weight, dry matter intake (DMI) as a percentage of body weight, minimum crude protein requirement, total digestible nutrients (TDN), and the number of life stages with unique nutritional profiles for each animal type. Click on any animal to see detailed feeding guides, life stage breakdowns, and recommended feeds.
Feed Requirements Comparison Table
All values represent maintenance-level requirements for adult animals at average body weight. Actual requirements vary significantly with life stage, production level, environmental conditions, and individual animal variation. Click any animal name for a detailed page with life-stage-specific requirements and feeding recommendations.
| Animal | Avg Weight | DMI % | Daily DMI | Protein % | TDN % | Life Stages | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef Cow | 1,200 lbs | 2% | 24.0 lbs | 7% | 52% | 6 | cattle |
| Dairy Cow | 1,400 lbs | 3.5% | 49.0 lbs | 16% | 70% | 5 | cattle |
| Horse | 1,100 lbs | 2% | 22.0 lbs | 10% | 55% | 9 | equine |
| Meat Goat | 150 lbs | 3.5% | 5.3 lbs | 10% | 55% | 4 | goat |
| Dairy Goat | 150 lbs | 4% | 6.0 lbs | 14% | 65% | 4 | goat |
| Sheep | 175 lbs | 3% | 5.3 lbs | 10% | 55% | 6 | sheep |
| Pig (Sow/Boar) | 400 lbs | 3% | 12.0 lbs | 14% | 75% | 3 | swine |
| Pig (Grower/Finisher) | 150 lbs | 5% | 7.5 lbs | 16% | 80% | 3 | swine |
| Chicken (Layer) | 5 lbs | 4% | 0.2 lbs | 16% | 70% | 3 | poultry |
| Chicken (Broiler) | 6 lbs | 5% | 0.3 lbs | 20% | 78% | 3 | poultry |
| Turkey | 25 lbs | 3.5% | 0.9 lbs | 22% | 75% | 3 | poultry |
| Duck | 7 lbs | 4.5% | 0.3 lbs | 16% | 70% | 3 | poultry |
| Rabbit | 8 lbs | 3.5% | 0.3 lbs | 16% | 65% | 3 | small-animal |
| Llama | 350 lbs | 1.8% | 6.3 lbs | 10% | 55% | 4 | camelid |
| Alpaca | 150 lbs | 1.8% | 2.7 lbs | 10% | 55% | 4 | camelid |
| Donkey | 500 lbs | 1.5% | 7.5 lbs | 8% | 50% | 4 | equine |
| Bison | 1,800 lbs | 2% | 36.0 lbs | 7% | 52% | 4 | cattle |
| Elk | 800 lbs | 2.5% | 20.0 lbs | 12% | 60% | 4 | cervid |
| White-tailed Deer | 200 lbs | 2.5% | 5.0 lbs | 12% | 60% | 4 | cervid |
| Miniature Horse | 300 lbs | 2% | 6.0 lbs | 10% | 55% | 4 | equine |
Understanding Dry Matter Intake Across Species
The dry matter intake percentage varies dramatically across livestock species and is determined by the animal's digestive physiology, metabolic rate, and body size. As a general rule, smaller animals consume a higher percentage of their body weight in dry matter because they have a higher metabolic rate per unit of body mass. A 5-lb laying hen consuming 0.25 lbs of feed daily is eating 5% of her body weight, while a 1,800-lb bison consuming 36 lbs daily eats only 2% of body weight. This inverse relationship between body size and DMI percentage is one of the fundamental principles of comparative animal nutrition.
Ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, goats, bison, elk, deer) have a multi-compartment stomach that allows them to extract nutrients from fibrous plant materials through microbial fermentation. This process is slower than enzymatic digestion, which limits the rate of feed passage and consequently limits DMI. Dairy cattle have been selected for higher DMI capacity (3.5% of body weight) to support their enormous milk production demands. Beef cattle, which produce less milk, have a lower DMI percentage (2.0%). Camelids (llamas and alpacas) are particularly efficient, achieving adequate nutrition at just 1.8% DMI due to their highly effective three-compartment stomach.
Monogastric animals (pigs and poultry) have a simpler digestive system that processes feed more quickly but cannot extract nutrients from cellulose and hemicellulose. These animals require higher-quality, more digestible feeds and consequently have different DMI patterns. Growing pigs consume 3-5% of body weight, while poultry intake is typically expressed in ounces per day rather than as a percentage due to their small body size. Horses and donkeys are hindgut fermenters with a cecum that provides limited fiber digestion, placing them between ruminants and monogastrics in digestive efficiency.
Protein Requirements Across Species
Protein requirements in livestock nutrition are expressed as crude protein (CP) percentage of the diet dry matter. The variation across species reflects differences in growth rates, milk production, egg production, and metabolic efficiency. Turkey poults have the highest protein requirement of any common livestock species at 28% CP during the first 4 weeks of life, reflecting their extremely rapid growth rate. At the other end of the spectrum, donkeys at maintenance require only 6-8% CP, reflecting their evolution in nutrient-sparse environments.
Within each species, protein requirements change dramatically with life stage. Lactating animals universally need more protein than those at maintenance because milk synthesis requires substantial amino acid input. Growing young stock need elevated protein for muscle and skeletal development. Finishing animals (feedlot cattle, market hogs, finisher broilers) actually need less protein as they shift from lean growth to fat deposition. Understanding these life-stage protein shifts is essential for minimizing feed costs while maintaining animal performance.
Browse by Category
Click any animal below for a dedicated page with detailed nutritional requirements by life stage, recommended feeds, and cost analysis specific to that species.