To try Calf Milk Calculator, you will need to create an account where you provide your name, email, operation name and size of milk mixing tank. When you create your account, this will begin your free two-week trial of Calf Milk Calculator.

Yes. Calf Milk Calculator provides you a milk mix recipe to precisely feed your calves which means ingredients are added based on weight. Your milk mixing tank must be on load cells.

To create your first mix, you will enter number of calves for this mix, size of the milk feeding per calf, number of feedings per day and your nutritional goals (% Total Solids, % Protein and % Fat).
Then you will select the ingredients you want to use for this mix from our ingredient library.

Choose a unique name for your mix that will help you know which calves will receive this milk and track how your calves perform on this specific milk mix.
Example: Babies Milk 1/1/25

Once you are satisfied with the milk mix made by Calf Mix Calculator, click on ‘Start Feeding’ at the bottom of the screen. This will finalize the mix and create a Feed Sheet for your calf kitchen employees to follow.
This Feed Sheet can be used offline and customized for a specific number of calves.
The order of ingredients in a Feed Sheet can be changed by clicking and dragging an individual ingredient.
More details about Calf Milk Calculator working without an internet connection are listed under Offline Functionality FAQ category.

There are three options: 1) shared via a QR code or via the unique URL to be opened on a computer, tablet or phone, 2) by the employee clicking on the Calf Milk Calculator icon from their phone or laptop after they have added www.calfmilkcalculator.com to their home screen, and 3) the Feed Sheet can be printed on a piece of paper.
More information about using the Feed Sheet is listed under Offline Functionality FAQ category.

To calculate the cost of the milk mix per calf per day, you will need to enter your ingredient costs in dollars per pound when you select your ingredients. You will then be able to see the price of the mix as cost per calf per day.
Entering your costs to calculate the milk mix price is optional.

Calf Milk Calculator uses dairy industry ingredient minimum standards for the nutritional breakdowns (protein, fat, and lactose) of commonly milk ration used ingredients. For the fluid milk, the national average from USDA’s 2023 reporting was used for protein, fat, and lactose.
Calf Milk Calculator allows you to add your ingredients (with their specific nutritional breakdowns) to your ingredient library as fluid milk and dry ingredients to be used in your milk mixes.

The optimal amount depends on the calf's age and weight. Feeding 1.5%-2.0% of body weight as dry matter of milk solids each day spread out over at least 2 feeding for the first 6-8 weeks of life is recommended. For a 100-pound calf, this would be 1.8 pounds of dry matter each day.

Calf Milk Calculator helps you determine the amount of dry matter of milk solids your milk program will deliver to your calves to meet your nutritional goals.

An accelerated feeding program involves feeding calves a higher amount of dry matter of milk solids each day (1.5%-2.0% of body weight) compared to historically feeding only 1.0% of body weight (1 gallon of milk per day) each day. An accelerated feeding program delivers this increased dry matter as more milk meals, higher volume feedings, higher total solids of the milk, or a combination of these options. This increase in milk is delivered in the first 6-8 weeks of life followed by a step-down weaning program to promote starter intake in preparation for weaning.

Calf Milk Calculator helps you design and implement a customized accelerated feeding program for your operation which should include the step-down weaning process where you may choose to feed once a day.

Total solids in milk solution represent the percentage of solids (protein, fat, lactose, ash) after water is removed. For whole milk, this is typically around 12.5%. Your creamery report will have the information to calculate the total solids of the milk your farm produces. For a milk replacer or when you add any powder to whole milk, the total solids depend on your mixing ratio. A Brix refractometer is not a reliable measure of total solids, especially when you have added powder to the milk mix. Calculating the total solids based on the weight of ingredients is a more precise method to ensure you are feeding your desired total solids consistently.

Calf Milk Calculator helps you determine the exact total solids percentage based on the weight of ingredients added.

Proper milk replacer mixing involves adding the measured amount of powder to water at the correct temperature according to the instructions on the bag of milk replacer (usually 110-120°F) while using a high-speed agitator.

Calf Milk Calculator provides you with a recipe for the exact weights of ingredients to add based on your specific nutritional goals to ensure consistent nutrition with every batch.

Whole milk weighs approximately 8.6 pounds per gallon. When calculating feeding amounts and mixing ingredients for your calves, it's important to add ingredients based on weight in order to make a precise mix to consistently meet your goals from feeding to feeding. This is why your mixing tank will need to be on load cells to best use our calculator to ensure precise feeding of your calves.

Component feeding involves customizing the milk mix by adding specific nutrients or ingredients to meet precise nutritional requirements for your calves. This might include adding extra protein, fat, or other supplements based on your calves' specific needs.

Calf Milk Calculator helps you determine how much a specific ingredient you need to add to meet your overall nutritional goals.

You can select one fluid milk ingredient and then add up to four more ingredients. Calf Milk Calculator will automatically add water to the mix as needed. You can also create a mix without any fluid milk and select up to four ingredients to be mixed with water.

No, Calf Milk Calculator does not require adding a manufacturer to a specific ingredient. The option is there for you to have more information about the specific mixes you are feeding when evaluating calves’ performance. Under Your Mix History, you can view a timeline of mixes fed.

Yes, if the manufacturer of the ingredient you are using is not listed, type the manufacturer name in the Ingredient Manufacturer field to add this new manufacturer. Having the correct manufacturer name is important when reviewing Your Mix History in conjunction with your calf performance.

Under Services select ‘Your Ingredients’, then click ‘Add New Ingredient’. You will need to create a unique name for your new ingredient.

To add a new dry ingredient, you will need the % protein and % fat on a dry matter basis. This information should be on the ingredient label. If you are unsure of this information, ask the ingredient manufacturer.

Yes, you can add your fluid milk ingredient to your ingredient library. You will need the components information as reported by your processor: % protein, % fat, and % other solids.
Example: 3.7% protein, 4.0% fat, and 5.6% other solids.

Calf Milk Calculator is designed to use as much available fluid milk as possible while meeting the nutritional goals you set for your mix. If fluid milk is not included in your mix, it's likely because the protein and fat goals are too low to incorporate it. Fluid milk is rich in protein (e.g., 26% on a dry matter basis) and fat (e.g., 34% on a dry matter basis), so if your nutritional goals are low (e.g., 20% protein and 20% fat), it may not be feasible to include fluid milk in the mix.
In such cases, Calf Milk Calculator will adjust the mix to meet your goals using other selected ingredients.
If you're aiming to maximize the use of fluid milk, we recommend setting your protein and fat goals to at least 22%.

Calf Milk Calculator will create a mix as close as possible to the % protein and % fat goals you entered based on the ingredients you selected. If the mix is not as close to your goals as you would like, then you will need to select different ingredients or change your goals. In the Ingredients Library, you can view the nutritional breakdown of different ingredients.

Calf Milk Calculator recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions for the daily feeding rate when the product includes specific medication dosage guidelines. You can still use Calf Milk Calculator to create accurate mixes, but make sure your mixes align with the medicated feed’s daily feeding instructions. This will allow you to create detailed mixes for your employees, review mix costs, track milk feeding history, and manage your ingredient inventory.

Once a mix is finalized, it will appear under "All Active Mixes" on your dashboard, with a green "Feeding" icon next to the mix name.
After finalizing a mix, it cannot be modified.
From the Feed Sheet, your calf kitchen employee can adjust the number of calves being fed for each batch. Changing the number of calves on the Feed Sheet is only for ensuring the mix is accurate for the number of calves being fed. For example, if the mix is designed to feed 500 calves (based on your mixing tank size), and you have 1,200 calves to feed that day, the employee can enter 500 calves on the Feed Sheet, prepare two batches for 500 calves each, and then update the Feed Sheet to 200 calves to make the final batch for the day.
If you want Calf Milk Calculator to track the total number of calves fed per day for inventory purposes, you’ll need to enter the number of calves on the milk mix page. For more details, refer to the FAQ section under "Your Inventory Function."

A new mix must be created when there is a change in ingredients (such as adding fluid milk or a new dry ingredient), changes in nutritional goals (based on factors like season or calf performance), or other management adjustments. Once a mix is finalized, it cannot be modified because it has been recorded in "Your Mix History."
One of the benefits of using Calf Milk Calculator is that it tracks all your milk feeding changes, allowing you to review them alongside your calves' performance.

Calf Milk Calculator tracks your feeding history based on the specific mix(es) you use. You can then access this feeding history under "Your Mix History" and use it alongside your calves' growth and health data to assess the performance of your mixes.

To keep "Your Mix History" and "Your Inventory" accurate, be sure to update Calf Milk Calculator when you stop feeding a mix. To do this, select the mix you want to stop, scroll to the bottom, and click "Stop Feeding." You’ll then be prompted to enter the date you stopped feeding the mix and provide a comment explaining why you made this change.
The mix will be archived and moved to your "Retired Mixes" list. If you decide to start feeding the mix again in the future, you can find it under "Your Mix History."

From your Dashboard, scroll down and click on "Retired Mixes." Then, select the mix you want to start feeding again. Scroll to the bottom of the mix and click "Restore Mix." This will move the mix back to your Active Mixes list.
Alternatively, go to Your Mix History, select the mix you want to resume feeding, scroll to the bottom, and click "Restore Mix." This will add the mix to your list of Active Mixes.

In "Your Mix History," you can find all previously retired or archived mixes, including Active Mixes you've stopped feeding, Draft Mixes, and Incomplete Mixes. If needed, you can restore any of these mixes by selecting the mix, scrolling to the bottom, and clicking "Restore Mix." The mix will be restored in its original classification—whether Active, Draft, or Incomplete.

To change the size of your mixing tank, click on your username in the upper right corner, then select "My Account." Under "Farm Details," click "Update Farm Details" and you can modify the size of your mixing tank. Calf Milk Calculator will then adjust the size of your milk mixes to match your tank capacity, ensuring the mix recipe will properly fit in your mixing tank.

Calf Milk Calculator generates a milk mix recipe tailored to a specific number of calves, designed to meet your nutritional goals based on the ingredients you select. This helps you understand what you're feeding your calves in terms of dry matter, protein, and fat, so you can effectively evaluate their performance and plan their overall nutrition.
Calf Milk Calculator saves you time by eliminating the need for manual calculations in Excel and trial and error to find the best ingredient combinations to meet your nutritional goals.

Yes. If you select a fluid milk ingredient for your mix, Calf Milk Calculator will prioritize using as much available fluid milk as possible to create a mix that meets your nutritional goals.
We understand that fluid milk is often a priority in calf mixes because it’s perishable and easily digested by calves. If you have a limited amount of fluid milk, Calf Milk Calculator allows you to enter the maximum amount available to ensure the mix is adjusted accordingly.

Yes. If you choose to enter the costs of your ingredients, Calf Milk Calculator will create the most cost-effective mix that meets your nutritional goals.
Entering ingredient costs is optional, but if you choose to do so, you’ll need to input the cost for all ingredients selected for a specific mix.
By adding ingredient costs, Calf Milk Calculator will show the cost of the milk ration per calf per day, accounting for the number of feedings per day.
If you also enter the total number of calves fed each day, Calf Milk Calculator will help you track ingredient use and costs under “Your Inventory”.

No, the "Your Inventory" function in Calf Milk Calculator will not generate reports until you enter the total number of calves currently receiving the mixes.
To use the "Your Inventory" function, you must enter the total number of calves receiving an Active Mix and the date they started receiving it.
As the number of calves changes, make sure to update the total number of calves on the mix page along with the date.
When you stop feeding a mix, click "Stop Feeding" at the bottom of the mix screen and enter the date. From that point on, "Your Inventory" will no longer account for the ingredients in that mix after the specified date.

To track how much of your ingredients have been used to feed your calves, you need to enter the total number of calves being fed any Active Mixes.
Enter this information on the mix page for the appropriate mix, along with the date when these calves started receiving it.
Update the total number of calves on the mix page as needed to ensure it accurately reflects the number of calves being fed.
Next, go to "Your Inventory" under Services and select a date range in the past to view your ingredient usage.
You’ll see a daily rate and a running total of ingredient usage during this period, along with a breakdown of which mixes included each ingredient.

To project future ingredient usage with Calf Milk Calculator, you need to enter the total number of calves being fed any Active Mixes.
Enter this information on the mix page for the appropriate mix, along with the date when these calves started receiving it.
Remember to update the total number of calves on the mix page as needed to ensure it accurately reflects the number of calves being fed.
Next, go to "Your Inventory" under Services and select a future date range to view your projected ingredient usage for that period.
You’ll see the projected daily rate and a running total of ingredient usage, as well as which mixes include each specific ingredient.

Calf Milk Calculator is designed to help calf raisers precisely mix milk for their calves based on the weight of ingredients. To ensure accurate measurements, your milk mixing tank should be equipped with load cells for weighing the ingredients.
"Your Inventory" is reported in pounds, helping you, as the calf manager, track how much of each ingredient should have been used based on the milk mixes fed to a specific number of calves. As mixes are stopped and new ones are started, "Your Inventory" will update, provided you’ve entered the feeding dates and the number of calves being fed each mix.
Additionally, "Your Inventory" allows you to forecast the total amount of ingredients needed based on the number of calves being fed each Active Mix.

Calf Milk Calculator requires an internet connection to create new mixes, add ingredients, and review "Your Mix History" and "Your Inventory".
However, Feed Sheets can be viewed offline, and the number of calves listed on a Feed Sheet can be updated without an internet connection.
In summary, actions that a calf manager needs to perform, such as creating mixes or reviewing history and inventory, require an internet connection. On the other hand, tasks for a calf feeder (such as mixing milk) can be done offline.

Feed Sheets can be accessed, viewed, and the number of calves updated without an internet connection.
To share a Feed Sheet, you can generate a QR code or send a link to the URL. Alternatively, you can click the Calf Milk Calculator icon on a phone or tablet home screen when connected to the internet. Instructions for adding Calf Milk Calculator to a device’s home screen are provided in a separate FAQ.
Once a Feed Sheet has been viewed, the employee can use it fully in the calf kitchen without needing an internet connection. The Feed Sheet’s URL is designed to work offline.
If preferred, Feed Sheets can also be printed and handed to the employee mixing the milk, providing a paper option for your farm.

Calf Milk Calculator Feed Sheets are designed to function offline, recognizing that internet access in the calf kitchen may be unreliable.
We recommend accessing Feed Sheets by clicking the Milk Calculator icon on your home screen. Instructions for adding Calf Milk Calculator to your device’s home screen can be found in a separate FAQ.
Once you click on the icon, enter your farm’s secret code, which can be found under Farm Details in My Account. After entering the secret code while connected to the internet, all your Active Mixes Feed Sheets will be available in a dropdown list.
After this initial setup, employees can access all Feed Sheets offline, without needing a username or password. This offline functionality allows employees to view Feed Sheets in a user-friendly way, without requiring personal login credentials.
You control the secret code for your farm. If needed, you can reset access to your Feed Sheets by updating your secret code under Farm Details in My Account.
If preferred, Feed Sheets can also be printed and given to the employee mixing the milk, providing a paper option for your farm.

Feed Sheets available offline through the unique URL or by clicking the Milk Calculator icon on the home screen will need to connect to the internet once to update if any mix changes have been made. To do this, simply bring the device to a location with an internet connection, like the office, and refresh the list of available Feed Sheets or load the individual URL.
This is similar to other devices on a dairy that can be used offline but need to connect to the internet periodically to access updated information.