Two figures in, a clear answer out. The dry matter calculator uses moisture, moisture, fat, fat, fiber, fiber, protein and protein to produce others, dry matter protein0 and dry matter protein1, applying the standard relationship for this problem in the order the calculation actually needs it.
What Is the Dry Matter Calculator?
The dry matter calculator works out others, dry matter protein0 and dry matter protein1 from moisture, moisture, fat, fat, fiber, fiber, protein and protein.
Biological relationships are usually approximations rather than exact laws, so the output is best treated as an estimate with a sensible range around it.
How the Dry Matter Calculation Works
The calculation applies the relationship as published, step by step, so each intermediate value can be checked against the underlying theory.
Keep the units consistent throughout. Mixing a percentage with a proportion is the single most common source of an answer that is out by a factor of a hundred.
Assumptions Worth Knowing
Any relationship used here assumes a constant rate, a representative sample, or a stable population. Real populations rarely meet those conditions for long, so treat the answer as a guide.
Where the inputs are field measurements, a single misread value can shift the result noticeably. Measure carefully and record what you used.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with moisture set to 10, moisture set to 5, fat set to 2, the calculator returns dry matter protein0 of 2.22, and dry matter fat0 of 2.22, and dry matter fiber0 of 11.11. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out others?
Enter moisture, moisture, fat, fat, fiber, fiber, protein and protein. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports others, dry matter protein0 and dry matter protein1.
What does the dry matter actually calculate?
It takes moisture, moisture, fat, fat, fiber, fiber, protein and protein and converts them into others, dry matter protein0 and dry matter protein1 using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter moisture?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Why does a small change in one value move the answer so much?
That happens when an output depends on a ratio, because dividing by a small number magnifies any change in it. Check the units first, then check whether the value you entered is in the range the relationship was designed for.
Is the answer exact?
It is as exact as the formula and the inputs allow. The method itself is the standard one for this problem, so the only sources of error are the figures you enter and the precision you ask for.