Horse Daily Feed Calculator
Estimate your horse's daily dry matter intake (DMI) and Digestible Energy (DE) requirement using the National Research Council (NRC) "Nutrient Requirements of Horses" (2007) guidelines. The NRC recommends a minimum intake of 1.5% of body weight as dry matter daily for gut health, with most horses requiring 2-2.5% for adequate energy. The DE requirement is adjusted upward by a work-level multiplier. Enter your horse's body weight and work level to get the daily DMI range and DE target.
Horse feed formula (NRC 2007)
DMI minimum (kg/day) = body weight (kg) x 1.5%
DMI typical (kg/day) = body weight (kg) x 2.0% to 2.5%
DE maintenance (Mcal/day) = 0.0328 x body weight (kg)
DE with work (Mcal/day) = DE maintenance x work multiplier
The maintenance DE coefficient (0.0328 Mcal/kg BW/day) is from NRC "Nutrient Requirements of Horses," 6th edition (National Academies Press, 2007), Table 1-1. Work multipliers are from NRC Table 1-2.
Work-level DE multipliers (NRC 2007)
- Maintenance: 1.00 x DE maintenance
- Light work: 1.20 x DE maintenance
- Moderate work: 1.40 x DE maintenance
- Heavy work: 1.80 x DE maintenance
- Very heavy work: 2.00 x DE maintenance
Horse daily feed calculator: frequently asked questions
How much should a horse eat per day?
The National Research Council (NRC) recommends that horses consume a minimum of 1.5% of body weight as dry matter daily, with most horses doing best at 2-2.5% of body weight. For a 500 kg horse, that is 10-12.5 kg of dry matter per day.
What is the difference between forage and concentrate for horses?
Forage (hay, pasture, haylage) provides fibre and the bulk of energy for most horses. Concentrates (grain, pelleted feed) supply additional energy and nutrients for horses in hard work. Forage should make up at least 50% of the diet by dry matter; ideally 60-100% for maintenance horses.
How does work level affect a horse's feed needs?
The NRC uses Digestible Energy (DE) requirements adjusted by work level. Maintenance is the baseline. Light work adds approximately 20%, moderate work adds 40%, heavy work adds 80%, and very heavy work (racing, endurance) can double the maintenance energy requirement.
What is Digestible Energy (DE) for horses?
DE is the portion of feed energy actually absorbed by the horse after faecal losses. It is measured in Mcal (megacalories) per day. A mature 500 kg horse at maintenance requires approximately 16.4 Mcal DE per day according to NRC (2007).
Should I weigh my horse's feed?
Yes. Feeding by weight rather than volume is strongly recommended. A flake of hay can vary from 2-6 kg depending on type and compression. The NRC and equine nutritionists recommend using a spring scale or a pre-weighed hay net for accuracy.
Official sources
- National Research Council: Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Edition (2007).
- Penn State Extension: Horse Extension Resources.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.