Hay, pasture and silage
Forage is usually the base of the ration. Track quality, availability, seasonal changes and how much is actually consumed.
Sheep feed library
Understand feed types before they become farm costs.
Feed decisions affect growth, health, lambing performance and profit. This library gives a practical overview of common sheep feed categories and how they fit into flock records.
Feed categories
Common sheep feed types to track
A feed library is useful when it helps the farm record what was bought, what was used, what it cost and how it affected animal performance.
Grain and concentrates
Energy feeds can support growth and finishing, but cost and digestive risk need close management.
Protein sources
Protein matters for growing lambs, lactating ewes and weak forage periods. Record both quantity and purpose.
Straw and roughage
Straw and roughage affect intake, bedding cost and ration structure. They should not disappear from cost records.
Minerals and salt
Minerals are small in volume but important for health, reproduction and growth. Track purchase and use consistently.
Lamb creep and supplements
Special feeds should be tied to the group and goal: creep feeding, recovery, flushing or finishing.
Cost control
Feed cost only makes sense when it is connected to results.
A bag price alone does not explain whether the ration is working. The farm needs to see feed cost beside animal weight, daily gain, health events and sale value.
When feed records are separated from flock records, it becomes harder to know whether higher feed cost produced better performance or just reduced margin.
- Track unit costRecord price per bag, kilogram, pound, bale or ton in a consistent way.
- Track actual usePurchased feed is not the same as feed consumed by a group.
- Compare with gainWeight records help show whether feed use is producing the expected result.
- Watch waste and leftoversFeed losses can quietly change the real cost of growth.
- Simple calculators help firstUse feed cost and feed conversion tools to estimate basic cost pressure.
- Rations need nutrient contextFor serious ration planning, dry matter, protein, energy and intake assumptions matter.
- Farm records close the loopThe final question is whether the animals grew, stayed healthy and sold well enough.
HARSE and flock records
HerdDeck connects feed, ration planning and animal performance.
HerdDeck Shepherd brings feed stock, animal weights, health events, finance, HARSE ration planning and reports into one workflow so feed decisions can be reviewed with real flock data.
Next step
Start by tracking feed cost, then connect it to animal performance.
Feed records become much more valuable when they are linked to weights, treatments, groups, sale timing and profit. HerdDeck helps keep those connections visible.