Get daily feed, water, and annual hay requirements for your goats, pigs, cattle, sheep, or rabbits — with monthly cost estimates.
A mature goat eats approximately 2–4 pounds of hay per day, or about 2–3% of its body weight in dry matter. A 120-pound meat goat on partial pasture needs roughly 2–3 lbs of hay daily, plus browse from pasture.
A pig being finished to slaughter weight (250–280 lbs) eats about 6–8 lbs of feed per day at a cost of roughly $1.50–$2.00 per day on commercial feed. Supplementing with garden waste, spent grain, and kitchen scraps significantly reduces feed costs on a homestead.
Water needs vary widely by species, size, and temperature. A lactating dairy cow may drink 30–50 gallons per day. A goat drinks 1–3 gallons. A pig drinks 3–5 gallons. All animals need more water in hot weather — dehydration is a leading cause of poor production and health problems in livestock.