The Hidden Cost of Rodents: How Much Feed Are You Really Losing?

The Hidden Cost of Rodents: How Much Feed Are You Really Losing?

When most farmers and ranchers think about feed loss, they picture wind, moisture, or spilled grain. But across North America, the biggest source of feed loss is something far smaller—and much busier after dark.

Rodents.

Mice and rats cost livestock producers thousands of dollars every year, and the losses are often invisible until the damage is done. While it may feel like “only a few chewed bags,” the numbers tell a different story.

How Much Feed Are Rodents Really Consuming?

Studies from agricultural universities show that 10–30% of stored feed is lost to rodents annually. But here’s the real kicker:

Rodents contaminate more feed than they eat.

A mouse only eats around 3–4 grams a day, but a single mouse can contaminate 10 times as much feed through urine, droppings, and nesting behavior. Multiply that by dozens—or hundreds—of rodents, and the losses add up fast.

Rodent Reproduction: The Hidden Multiplier

  • One pair of mice can produce 2,000 offspring a year.

  • Rats can have up to 12 litters annually.

  • Most activity takes place between 10 PM and 4 AM.

It’s easy to miss the warning signs when the entire operation happens in the dark.

How Rodents Damage Your Feed Beyond Consumption

Rodents:

  • Chew through bags, making feed vulnerable to moisture and mold

  • Ruin feed by tunneling into grain bins or totes

  • Shred packaging to build nests

  • Spread contaminants that make feed unsafe for livestock

Even high-quality feed can become unusable after just a few nights of rodent activity.

How to Measure Your Real Feed Loss

If you’ve noticed:

  • unexplained feed shortages

  • chewed corners on bags

  • random holes in grain piles

  • shadows or sounds at night

…you’re almost certainly losing money.

But the best way to know what’s really happening?

Use Nighttime Cameras to See What You’re Missing

Most rodent activity goes completely unnoticed. A camera—especially one with strong infrared night vision, motion triggers, and app alerts—can reveal:

  • where rodents are entering your feed room

  • how many are visiting nightly

  • what feed sources they target

  • whether your prevention efforts are working

Barn Owl cameras are built for low-light and night-time monitoring, making them ideal for barns and feed rooms where activity spikes after sunset.

You can’t fix a rodent problem you can’t see.
A week of nighttime footage often exposes more than a year of guesswork.

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