Jersey dairy cows eating a tmr from a feed barrier

Best-Value Feed Calculator 2025

Compare protein & energy cost per kg of Dry Matter • Find the cheapest source

Feedstuff A

Feedstuff B

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How to Find the Cheapest Usable Protein & Energy in 2026/27

Stop comparing feeds by £/tonne wet weight (the biggest mistake most farmers still make). Use dry-matter CP and ME cost instead – here’s exactly how top nutritionists and the best herds do it.

How to use this calculator properly (60-second version)

  1. Ask your merchant for the latest price per tonne delivered.
  2. Select the two feeds you’re comparing (or choose “Custom” for home-grown or blends).
  3. Type the price per tonne.
  4. Read the green box – the feed with the lowest “£ per kg CP (DM)” wins on protein cost.
  5. Change the herd size / kg fed / days to see your exact winter saving if you switch completely.

8 Tips & Tricks for 2025/26

  • Always compare on Dry Matter – a £20/t cheaper wet feed can be 15–20% more expensive once water is removed.
  • Distillers, Trafford Gold, Pot Ale Syrup and Maize Gluten are consistently the cheapest protein sources right now.
  • Rapemeal vs Soya – rape is usually £30–£50/t cheaper but only 1–2% lower CP on DM. Still often wins.
  • Blend prices are meaningless until you know the inclusion % of the expensive ingredients.
  • Bread, biscuit meal & confectionery by-products – high ME, low CP → great energy sources, terrible protein sources.
  • Home-grown barley + beans or peas – often beats bought-in protein once drying & rolling costs are added.
  • Watch digestibility – a 2p/kg cheaper protein that’s poorly digested can cost you milk or growth.
  • Lock in prices early – the cheapest physical feed in November is usually the one you bought in July.

Things to think about before you switch

  • Palatability – some cattle hate pot ale syrup or distillers the first week.
  • Storage – moist feeds (20–35% moisture) need covering and using within 5–7 days.
  • Transport cost – £10–£15/t extra if the merchant is 100 miles away.
  • Ration balance – don’t drop below 15–16% total ration CP (DM) for milking cows.
  • Amino acid profile – soya is still king for bypass protein if you’re pushing high yields.
  • Mineral inclusion – some by-products are very low in phosphorus.

This calculator is 100% free and always will be.
Bookmark it • Share it • Save your farm thousands this winter.

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