Track a herd through the year — opening count plus births and purchases, minus deaths and sales, equals the closing count. It’s a simple flow balance that must always reconcile.
The example
200 + 60 + 10 − 5 − 40.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | In − out | +25 |
| 3 | Closing | → 225 |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Start with the opening count for the period.
- Add the ins — births and purchases.
- Subtract the outs — deaths and sales.
- The result is the closing count, which becomes next period’s opening.
A herd is just a running balance. Each closing count rolls forward as the next opening, so a column of months reconciles automatically — and any month where the math does not match a physical count flags a missed birth, death, or unrecorded sale. The same opening-plus-ins-minus-outs pattern tracks any inventory: hay bales, breeding stock, or culls.
Try it: interactive demo
Opening, births, purchases, deaths, sales.
Variations
Net change
Ins − outs:
Death loss %
Mortality:
Calving / birth rate
Per breeding female:
Pitfalls & errors
Roll forward. Closing becomes next period’s opening — chain the months.
Reconcile to a count. A physical headcount should match the formula.
Separate ins and outs. Births/purchases add; deaths/sales subtract.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I track herd inventory in Excel?
How do I calculate death loss?
How does the herd roll across months?
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