Hay sample
A hay sample weighs 100 g before drying and 88 g after drying.
- Fresh weight: 100 g
- Dry weight: 88 g
Dry matter is 88%, moisture is 12%.
Dry hay has a high dry matter percentage and is easier to compare on an as-fed basis.
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Feed Dry Matter Calculator
Calculate dry matter content in feed to ensure animal nutritional requirements
Dry Matter Content Calculation
Enter fresh and dry weight data to calculate feed dry matter content and nutritional value
Typical Range: 85-95%
Please enter feed data for analysis
Feed dry matter formula
Dry matter expresses how much feed remains after water is removed. It is the basis for fair ration comparison.
Dry matter % = dry weight / fresh weight × 100
Moisture % = 100 - dry matter %
Dry matter weight = fresh feed weight × dry matter %
Moisture weight = fresh feed weight × moisture %- fresh weight
- As-fed sample weight
- The feed weight before drying, including water.
- dry weight
- Weight after drying
- The remaining feed material after moisture has been removed.
- DM
- Dry matter
- The non-water portion that carries nutrients and energy.
How this dry matter calculator works
Use it to convert as-fed weights into dry matter values for ration checks, storage decisions, and feed comparisons.
- Enter fresh sample weight and dry sample weight from a representative feed sample.
- Calculate dry matter percentage from dry weight divided by fresh weight.
- Calculate moisture percentage as the remaining portion of the sample.
- Apply the dry matter percentage to the entered sample size or feed amount.
- Compare the result with typical dry matter ranges for the selected feed type.
Important notes
- A representative sample matters more than the calculation itself.
- Silage and wet feeds can vary across a pile, bunker, bag, or delivery.
- Feed analysis labs provide more complete nutrient profiles than dry matter alone.
Dry matter examples
These examples show why as-fed weight and dry matter weight should not be compared directly.
Corn silage sample
A wet silage sample loses much of its weight during drying.
- Fresh weight: 100 g
- Dry weight: 35 g
Dry matter is 35%, moisture is 65%.
Silage ration amounts should be converted to dry matter to compare nutrient supply.
Ration adjustment
A feed becomes wetter after rain or storage changes.
- Lower dry matter percentage than expected
More as-fed weight is required to deliver the same dry matter.
Moisture changes can alter actual nutrient delivery even when bucket weight is unchanged.
Feed dry matter FAQ
Common questions about sampling, moisture, and ration interpretation.
Use this result as an estimate
Dry matter results depend on representative sampling and drying method. Use lab feed analysis and nutritionist guidance for ration formulation, animal health decisions, and high-value feed purchases.