Average Daily Gain & How Fast Stock Grow
Tracks cattle
Enter start weight, final weight and days to get ADG in kg/day and g/day, the total gain, and the days to reach market weight — and spot stock that fall behind.
Enter the animal
Next: if ADG is below target for the class, lift ration energy/protein, ensure clean water and parasite control, and re-weigh in 3–4 weeks to confirm the response.
Good ADG is class-specific (e.g. growing cattle ~0.6–1.0 kg/day); weigh at the same time of day for consistency.
Average daily gain — key facts
- ADG
- (final − start) ÷ days
- Units
- kg/day and g/day
- Days to target
- (target − current) ÷ ADG
- Good ADG (growing cattle)
- ≈ 0.6–1.0 kg/day
- Weigh
- same time of day, same scale
- Re-weigh after change
- in 3–4 weeks
- Low ADG
- lift energy/protein, water, parasites
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
One number tells you if growth is on track
Weighing stock is only useful when you turn two weights into a rate. Average daily gain does exactly that: subtract the start weight from the latest weight, divide by the days, and you have kilograms gained per day — a clean measure of whether feed is working and whether animals will hit market weight on time. Watch ADG and you catch the lagging animal, the off ration, or the parasite burden weeks before it shows up as a light, late draft at the sale.
This tool gives ADG in kg/day and g/day, the total gain, the remaining gain to your target, and the days to reach market weight at the current rate. Use it to benchmark groups, test ration changes, and plan turnoff dates. If gain is low, lift ration energy and protein, check water and parasites, then re-weigh in three to four weeks. Pair it with the Dry Matter Intake, Feed Conversion Ratio and Livestock Feed tools to manage growth end to end.
Measure growth
Turn two weights into a clean kg/day rate.
Plan turnoff
See the days to reach market weight at this rate.
Catch laggards
Spot animals gaining below the band early.
Test the ration
Re-weigh after a change to prove it's working.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is average daily gain (ADG)?+
ADG is how much weight an animal puts on per day over a period, in kilograms per day. It's the single most useful number for tracking growth: it tells you whether stock are on target for market, whether a ration is working, and which animals are lagging. A higher, steady ADG usually means efficient, profitable growth.
How is ADG calculated?+
ADG = (final weight − start weight) ÷ number of days. For example a calf going from 200 kg to 290 kg over 100 days gained 90 kg, so ADG = 90 ÷ 100 = 0.9 kg/day, or 900 g/day. The tool reports it in both kg/day and g/day from your two weights and the days between them.
How do I find days to target weight?+
Days to target = (target weight − current weight) ÷ ADG. If an animal is 290 kg now, you want 450 kg, and it's gaining 0.9 kg/day, that's (450 − 290) ÷ 0.9 ≈ 178 days. The tool shows the remaining gain and the days to reach your market or sale weight at the current rate.
What is a good ADG?+
It's class-specific. Growing cattle commonly run about 0.6–1.0 kg/day on good feed, with feedlot and high-energy systems higher and grazing or maintenance lower; calves, lambs and other stock have their own ranges. The tool flags a band so you can see whether the animal is gaining well, fairly or poorly for growing stock.
My animals have low ADG — what should I do?+
First check the basics: is energy and protein in the ration adequate, is clean water always available, and are parasites under control? Low gain is often feed quality, water, or worms before it's genetics. Lift ration energy and protein, treat for parasites if needed, then re-weigh in three to four weeks to confirm the response.
When and how should I weigh animals?+
Weigh at the same time of day each time — ideally before feeding or after a consistent gut fill — because gut contents can swing live weight by several kilograms. Use the same calibrated scale, handle animals calmly, and weigh over a sensible interval (a few weeks at least) so day-to-day noise averages out into a reliable ADG.
Why does the period length matter?+
ADG is an average over the days you choose, so a short period exaggerates random gut-fill and weighing error, while a longer period smooths it into a truer growth rate. For decisions, weigh over at least a few weeks. The tool simply divides total gain by your days, so use a representative interval for a meaningful figure.
Can it handle weight loss?+
Yes — if the final weight is below the start weight the ADG is negative, showing the animal lost condition over the period. That's a red flag for feed shortage, illness, heat stress or parasites and warrants a closer look. Use it to catch problems early rather than discovering them at sale.
Does it work for sheep, goats and other stock?+
Yes — the maths is the same for any animal: gain divided by days. Just enter the weights and days for cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats or pigs and read ADG in kg/day and g/day. Only the 'good ADG' band is set for growing cattle, so judge other species against their own targets.
Are the figures exact?+
ADG itself is exact for the weights and days you enter; the uncertainty is in the weighing. Gut fill, scale accuracy and the period chosen all affect it, and days-to-target assumes the current rate continues — which it may not as the animal matures or feed changes. Use it as a tracking and planning tool and re-weigh regularly.