You know your ration, but do you know its return?
Feed management is about precision – making sure the right mix hits the bunk at the right time every day. But precision matters beyond the mixer and the feed bunk. Even with a spot-on mix, you still need to know how each pound of feed is working for you. That’s where having income over feed cost (IOFC) calculations readily available makes a difference.
IOFC is one of the most effective ways to track the balance between precision and profitability. It shows what’s left after feed costs are subtracted from milk income, offering a clear picture of how efficiently a herd is converting feed into profit. And with FeedComp from VAS, you can see those numbers come together automatically, gaining instant insight into how your feed decisions are impacting your bottom line.
“The goal is always to make every ration count,” says Melissa Freitas, farm performance consultant team leader for VAS. “Feed is what drives production, but it’s also where dairies can lose the most money if efficiency slips. IOFC helps show where the opportunities are.”
From manual math to real-time insight
Traditionally, calculating IOFC was a hands-on, multi-step process:
Pull feed data from spreadsheets
Find milk data from your milk plant
Do the math manually or using a third-party calculator
Cross your fingers that all the numbers came together accurately
This process was time-consuming and even small errors could skew results.
FeedComp, part of the VAS PULSE Platform, takes the headache out of that process. A key benefit of an integrated feed management system is that it automatically integrates feed, herd and milk data, calculating IOFC in real time, eliminating manual entry and guesswork.
“Before, farmers had to piece together data from several places,” explains Freitas. “Now, they can open PULSE Platform and see their IOFC alongside their feed accuracy and ration reports – all in one dashboard.”
With FeedComp’s IOFC report, the number becomes more than a financial metric. It’s a decision-making tool dairy farmers can reference when it is convenient. If ingredient costs increase or milk components shift, those changes are reflected automatically.
“You can see right away how a feed mix or feed management change affects profitability,” adds Freitas. “That’s powerful. It turns IOFC into something farmers, managers and nutritionists can act on now, instead of months down the road.”
Visibility that drives better decisions
By automating IOFC, FeedComp helps you and your teams stay proactive. Freitas often sees a shift in mindset once farmers can visualize their financial outcomes alongside feed performance data.
“When you connect the dots of feed costs, milk production and efficiency, it changes how decisions are made. It’s not just about what to feed, but what that feed is returning,” she explains.
That real-time visibility also strengthens collaboration. With farm-granted permissions, nutritionists and other consultants can access the same IOFC reports remotely through the PULSE Platform, ensuring everyone works from the same data. It’s no longer a matter of sending spreadsheets back and forth. Everyone’s looking at the same dashboard, making team discussions faster and more focused.
A smarter way forward
FeedComp’s integrated IOFC report reflects a broader shift in how dairies manage feed and financial performance, moving from scattered data and delayed insights to continuous, connected decision-making
“As feed efficiency and milk prices fluctuate, having that real-time financial picture helps you stay ahead,” says Freitas. “It’s about confidence – seeing the impact of every change and planning for what’s next.”
Contact your local VAS farm performance consultant or click below to see how integrated feed management can help your dairy make every ration count.
There’s never been a better time to simplify your feeding program. Implement FeedComp for free on your farm through the end of 2025.*
