How to Mix Your Own Feed with Feed Formulas
A feed formula is the recipe for feed you mix yourself: what goes in, and how much. Save it once, open it every time you mix, and stock each batch you make in the Feed Store, so you always know how much is left.
Who it's for: anyone who mixes their own layer, broiler or livestock feed instead of buying it ready-made. Plan: every plan. Starter keeps 2 formulas, Growth 10, Scale and Enterprise no limit. Time: about 5 minutes per recipe.
What you need first
- Your recipe: each ingredient and how much of it goes into one mix.
- To track the mixed feed, the Feed Store. Our feed lesson shows how it works.
Step-by-step
Step 1: Start a formula
On the Home screen, tap More. Under Stock & supplies, tap Feed Formulas. The list stays empty until you save your first recipe. Tap New Formula.
A formula is the recipe only. The feed you actually have in store is tracked separately, in the Feed Store, and the form reminds you of that at the top.
Step 2: Add what goes in
Give the formula a name you will recognise, such as Home layers mix. Under What goes in, type the first ingredient and its amount, Maize and 50, then pick the unit: Kilogram. Tap + Add for each of the others: soya meal, fish meal, limestone. Small amounts count too. Half a kilo of premix is 0.5.
Step 3: Save your recipe
Under Select Animal, choose who the feed is for, such as Chicken. Write what you know about the mix under Nutritional Information, for example "About 17% protein, 3.5% calcium", and anything else under Note, like how often you mix it. Tap Save formula.
The recipe shows in the list with its number of ingredients and its animal: 5 ingredients · Chicken. Open it whenever you mix, and every amount is there.
Step 4: Stock the mixed feed
Mixed a batch? Open the Feed Store, under More, then Stock & supplies. Tap Create, then New feed. Type the feed's name, pick its unit, and enter How much do you have now? For the recipe above, that is 83.5 kg. Under Feed Formula (optional), pick Home layers mix, then tap Add feed.
The mix is now in stock, and the Feed Store counts it down each time you record a feeding. Open the feed and its recipe is listed under Recipe, below what came in and what went out.
Common mistakes
- Expecting a formula to hold stock. Saving a recipe adds no feed and takes nothing out of stock. Stock the mixed feed in the Feed Store and link it to its formula.
- Leaving out the small amounts. Premix, salt and vitamins weigh little but matter a lot. Enter them as a fraction, such as 0.5, or in grams.
- Adding a new feed every time you mix. Add the mixed feed to the Feed Store once. When you mix the next batch, open that feed and tap Add to this feed.
- Stocking the feed in a different unit from the one you feed in. The Feed Store asks you to choose the same unit you use when feeding your livestock. Pick it before you save, so every feeding counts down correctly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a feed formula in Livestock Manager?
The recipe for a feed you mix yourself: each ingredient with its amount and unit, the animal it is for, and any nutrition notes. A formula holds no stock. The feed you mix goes in the Feed Store, linked to its formula.
How many feed formulas can I save?
It depends on your plan. Starter keeps 2 formulas, Growth 10, and Scale and Enterprise have no limit.
Which units can I use for ingredients?
Each ingredient has its own unit. On a farm that uses metric units the list runs from milligrams and grams to kilograms and tonnes, with millilitres and litres for liquids. A farm that uses imperial units gets pounds, ounces and gallons instead.
Can I change a formula after saving it?
Yes. Open it from Feed Formulas, tap its menu and choose Edit. Admins, managers and staff can edit a formula.
How do I keep track of how much mixed feed is left?
Add the mix to the Feed Store as a new feed and link its formula. Record each feeding as usual and the Feed Store counts it down. When you mix again, open the feed and tap Add to this feed.
