How does the TMR ration balancer balance cattle rations?

The balancer matches dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), calcium, and phosphorus against NASEM nutrient requirement curves based on cattle class, body weight, and targeted average daily gain.

Can I generate mixer wagon batch sheets?

Yes. Enter your total pen head count to generate exact as-fed scale ticket load weights for each feed ingredient in the mixer wagon.

Can I export the diet formulation?

Yes. You can export the diet analysis and scale sheets to CSV or print out clean laminated mixer sheets for feed bunks.

Nutritional Formulation SuiteNASEM & NRC Standard

Cattle Ration Balancer & TMR Batch Calculator

Formulate complete Total Mixed Rations (TMR) for feedlot finishing steers, growing stockers, lactating beef cows, and breeding bulls. Calculate real-time Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Crude Protein (CP), Energy (TDN), Ca:P mineral ratios, daily feed cost per head, and mixer wagon scale load sheets.

Live NRC Requirement Match Mixer Wagon Scale Tickets Cost per Lb Gain Analyzer CSV & Printable Exports

Step 1: Select Animal Class & Target Performance

Nutritional Requirements Profile

Cattle Category Profile

Herd Head Count

Pen / Bunk Location Tag

Targets: 1150 lb BW • 3.4 lb/day Gain • Target DMI: 25.3 lb/day (2.2% BW)

Req CP: 12.5% • Req TDN: 78%

Step 2: Total Mixed Ration (TMR) Ingredients

Feed Formulation (As-Fed Basis)

forageCorn Silage (Well-Eared)(35% DM • 8.2% CP • 68% TDN)

As-Fed Lb / Head

Feed Cost ($/Ton)

Dry Matter Weight

8.8 lb DM (31.4%)

Cost / Head / Day

$0.69 ($69/herd)

grainDry Rolled Corn Grain (#2 Yellow)(86% DM • 9% CP • 88% TDN)

As-Fed Lb / Head

Feed Cost ($/Ton)

Dry Matter Weight

12.0 lb DM (43.3%)

Cost / Head / Day

$1.36 ($137/herd)

byproductDried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS)(90% DM • 29.5% CP • 88% TDN)

As-Fed Lb / Head

Feed Cost ($/Ton)

Dry Matter Weight

4.0 lb DM (14.6%)

Cost / Head / Day

$0.47 ($47/herd)

forageAlfalfa Hay (Mid-Bloom)(88% DM • 17.5% CP • 58% TDN)

As-Fed Lb / Head

Feed Cost ($/Ton)

Dry Matter Weight

2.6 lb DM (9.5%)

Cost / Head / Day

$0.27 ($27/herd)

mineralBeef Mineral & Vitamin Premix (2:1 Ca:P)(98% DM • 0% CP • 0% TDN)

As-Fed Lb / Head

Feed Cost ($/Ton)

Dry Matter Weight

0.3 lb DM (1.2%)

Cost / Head / Day

$0.21 ($21/herd)

Total Ration Intake

46.9 lb As-Fed (27.8 lb DM • 2.42% BW)

Daily Feed Cost

$3.01 / head ($301/day for 100 hd)

Cost of Gain

$0.88 / lb gain

Step 3: Nutrient Balance & NRC Standard Compliance

Diet Adequacy vs Animal Requirements

Dry Matter Intake (DMI) Balanced

27.8 lb/day

Req: 25.3 lb/day

110% of Target+2.5 lb/day

Crude Protein (CP) Balanced

12.4 % DM

Req: 12.5 % DM

99% of Target-0.1 % DM

Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) Balanced

77.8 % DM

Req: 78 % DM

100% of Target-0.2 % DM

Net Energy Maint (NEm) Balanced

0.85 Mcal/lb

Req: 0.88 Mcal/lb

96% of Target-0.03 Mcal/lb

Calcium (Ca) Deficit

0.42 % DM

Req: 0.55 % DM

77% of Target-0.13 % DM

Phosphorus (P) Balanced

0.43 % DM

Req: 0.3 % DM

144% of Target+0.13 % DM

Calcium : Phosphorus Ratio (Ca:P)

0.98 : 1

Watch for Calculi / Ratio

Roughage vs Concentrate Ratio

41% Forage : 59% Grain

Rumen Buffer Safe

Step 4: Feed Mill & Mixer Wagon Scale Tickets

Mixer Wagon Batch Scaler & Load Tickets

Active Pen: Pen 4 - Feedlot Finishers

Mixer Wagon & Feed Mill Equipment Constraints

40% Capacity Used

Head to Feed100 cattle

Feedings Per Day

Mixer Capacity LimitMax Load

Bunk Shrink FactorScale/wind/refusal

Quick Mixer Presets:

Scaling Mode:

Current Batch Load: 2,389 lbMixer Capacity Limit: 6,000 lb (39.8% full)

Formula: Feedlot Steer

Total Batch Weight

2,389 lb

1,420 lb DM (59.4% DM)

Capacity Utilization

40%

Limit: 6,000 lb (Safe Load)

Head Fed / Load

100 Head

100 total herd (2x/day)

Loads Required

2 Loads/day

1 load per feeding event

Batch Feed Cost

$153.40

$128.40 / ton as-mixed

Total Batch Requirements Breakdown (2,389 lb Total Mix)

Loading sequence ordered by optimal TMR mixing dynamics

Order	Feed Commodity	As-Fed %	Lb / Head	Batch Target (lb)	Scale Target (lb)	Daily Herd (lb)	Batch Cost
#1	Alfalfa Hay (Mid-Bloom) FORAGE • 88% DM • $180/ton	6.4%	3.0 lb	153 lb	153 lb	306 lb	$13.77
#2	Dry Rolled Corn Grain (#2 Yellow) GRAIN • 86% DM • $195/ton	29.9%	14.0 lb	714 lb	867 lb	1,428 lb	$69.62
#3	Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) BYPRODUCT • 90% DM • $210/ton	9.6%	4.5 lb	230 lb	1,097 lb	459 lb	$24.15
#4	Beef Mineral & Vitamin Premix (2:1 Ca:P) MINERAL • 98% DM • $1200/ton	0.7%	0.3 lb	18 lb	1,115 lb	36 lb	$10.80
#5	Corn Silage (Well-Eared) FORAGE • 35% DM • $55/ton	53.4%	25.0 lb	1,274 lb	2,389 lb	2,550 lb	$35.06
TOTAL BATCH MIX		100.0%	46.9 lb	2,389 lb	2,389 lb	4,779 lb/day	$153.40

Bunk Delivery Density

15.9 lb / linear foot

Calibrated for 1.5 ft of feed bunk space per head. Ensures uniform head spacing without crowding.

Mineral Premix Bag Sizing

18 lb (0.4 bags)

Standard commercial 50-lb premix bags required per mixer batch.

TMR Uniformity Standard

3 – 5 Minute Final Mix

After loading the final commodity, mix for 3-5 minutes. Avoid over-mixing to preserve effective rumen fiber.

Cattle Nutrition Formulation & NRC Principles

Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

Cattle consume feed to satisfy appetite and rumen capacity based on body weight (typically 1.8% to 2.8% BW in dry matter). Silages containing 60-70% water require much higher as-fed volume compared to dry baled hay or grains.

Crude Protein & Rumen Microbes

Growing calves and lactating cows require 11-14% Crude Protein (CP) to synthesize microbial protein and milk. When feeding low-protein roughages (<7% CP), rumen microbial digestion slows down, reducing forage intake unless supplemental protein (like DDGS or alfalfa) is supplied.

Ca:P Ratio & Acidosis Defense

High grain finishing rations are naturally high in Phosphorus and low in Calcium. Maintain a Ca:P ratio between 1.5:1 and 2.0:1 using limestone or mineral premixes to prevent urinary calculi (waterbelly) in steers, and keep minimum 10% effective roughage to avoid subacute ruminal acidosis.