Total Mixed Ration (TMR)
Mix high-quality cow feed from forage ingredients using a forage mixer.
Base-game standard mixture limits
The standard mixer recipe accepts hay at 20–75% of the final load, silage at 20–75%, straw at 0–30%, and mineral feed at 0–7%. Hay and silage are the required core ingredients; straw and mineral feed are optional. The four percentages in the final load must of course add up to 100%. Custom maps and mods can override these ranges.
Simple valid mixes
The easiest mix is 50% hay + 50% silage. A 10,000 L batch can also be 4,000 L hay + 5,000 L silage + 1,000 L straw. Another valid 10,000 L example is 3,500 L hay + 5,500 L silage + 500 L straw + 500 L mineral feed. Keep the mixer’s ingredient bars inside their valid ranges as the final check.
How to load accurately
Start with the largest required ingredients—hay and silage—then add optional straw/mineral feed carefully. Bales are convenient but can add too much at once in a small mixer. Loose material loaded with a bucket gives finer control. Watch the mixer percentage display after each addition.
Feeding robot alternative
A cow barn with feeding robot can combine the ingredients automatically when its ingredient storage areas are supplied, avoiding manual mixer-wagon batches.
TMR ingredient ratios
Keep every ingredient inside its minimum/maximum range. The final mixer load must total 100%.
| Ingredient | Minimum | Maximum | Required? | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hay | 20% | 75% | Yes | Core dry forage; combines with silage to form TMR. |
| Silage | 20% | 75% | Yes | Core fermented forage; combines with hay to form TMR. |
| Straw | 0% | 30% | No | Optional low-cost filler; too much makes the mix invalid. |
| Mineral feed | 0% | 7% | No | Optional additive; use only a small proportion. |
Example TMR batches
| Batch | Hay | Silage | Straw | Mineral feed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple 10,000 L | 5,000 L (50%) | 5,000 L (50%) | — | — | Simplest valid recipe. |
| With straw 10,000 L | 4,000 L (40%) | 5,000 L (50%) | 1,000 L (10%) | — | Valid lower-cost mix with straw. |
| With mineral feed 10,000 L | 3,500 L (35%) | 5,500 L (55%) | 500 L (5%) | 500 L (5%) | All four ingredients remain inside the valid ranges. |
| Ratio-only example | 40% | 50% | 5% | 5% | Scale these percentages to any mixer capacity. |
Procedure
- Prepare hay and silage; obtain straw/mineral feed only if you want to use them.
- Attach/use a forage mixer with enough free capacity for the intended batch.
- Load hay until the projected final percentage will stay between 20% and 75%.
- Load silage so its projected final percentage also stays between 20% and 75%.
- Optionally add straw, keeping final straw at 30% or less.
- Optionally add mineral feed, keeping final mineral feed at 7% or less.
- Check every ingredient bar is in the valid zone and the mixer identifies the result as TMR/forage mix rather than an invalid blend.
- Run the mixer and unload at the cow feeding point.
Equipment & tools
Open an equipment page for what the machine does, how to set it up and how to operate it.
Detailed procedure guides
Alternative options
Integrated loading/mixing convenience on large livestock farms.
Lower purchase cost but requires a tractor and often separate loader.
Practical tips
- For a trouble-free first batch, use 50/50 hay and silage.
- Use loose material when a whole bale would push a percentage outside the valid range.
- Maps can provide their own animalFood recipe; when a map changes the limits, follow the mixer display for that save.