FCR calculator

Feed Conversion Ratio Calculator (FCR) for Poultry, Cattle and Fish

The one number that makes two feeding programmes comparable. Enter what you fed and what you produced, then see what each kilogram of output actually costs in feed.

Inputs

Total feed consumed (kg)Total output produced (live weight gain, milk, eggs) (kg)Delivered feed price per tonne (currency/t)Target FCR to compare against

Results

Feed conversion ratio: 1.710
Feed cost per kg produced: 0.718
Cost at target FCR: 0.672
Feed gap vs target: 7.6 t
Value of closing the gap: 3,192

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Short answer

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) = total feed consumed ÷ total output produced, both in the same unit. 118,000 kg of feed producing 69,000 kg of live weight gives an FCR of 1.71. Multiply FCR by the feed price per kg to get the feed cost carried by every kilogram you produce.

The formula

FCR = total feed consumed ÷ total output produced
Feed cost per kg produced = FCR × (feed price per tonne ÷ 1000)
Feed gap = (actual FCR − target FCR) × output produced

Worked example — a broiler flock

· 118,000 kg feed delivered
· 69,000 kg live weight produced
· 420 per tonne
· target FCR 1.60

→ FCR = 118,000 ÷ 69,000 = 1.710
→ Feed cost per kg live weight = 1.710 × 0.42 = 0.718
→ The 0.11 gap to target is 7.6 t of extra feed, worth about 3,200 per cycle

Typical FCR by species

Category	Typical range	What it means
Broiler chicken	1.50–1.80	Live weight basis; rises with target weight.
Layer (per kg egg)	2.0–2.4	Roughly 0.13 kg feed per egg.
Pig, grower–finisher	2.5–3.2	Whole-herd FCR is higher than pen FCR.
Beef cattle, feedlot	6.0–8.0	Dry matter basis.
Tilapia	1.4–1.8	Pellet, good water quality.
Shrimp (vannamei)	1.3–1.7	Highly sensitive to feeding management.

Indicative commercial ranges; farm records beat any published table.

Turn the tonnage into offers

Once you know the tonnage, the next step is pricing it. Send the volume and the specification and we run it across qualified manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, then return every offer normalised to landed cost per tonne. Supplier-neutral and free for buyers.

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FAQ

Common questions

What is a good feed conversion ratio?

It depends on species: 1.50–1.70 for broilers, 2.5–3.2 for grower–finisher pigs, 6–8 for feedlot cattle on a dry matter basis and 1.3–1.8 for tilapia and shrimp. Lower is better, but only compare within the same species and weight range.

How do you calculate FCR?

Divide the total feed consumed by the total output produced over the same period, in the same unit. 3,000 kg of feed producing 1,800 kg of gain gives an FCR of 1.67.

What is the difference between FCR and feed efficiency?

Feed efficiency is the inverse of FCR: output ÷ feed. An FCR of 1.67 equals a feed efficiency of 0.60. Both describe the same relationship, so state which one a supplier is quoting.

Why does FCR matter more than feed price?

Feed is normally 60–70% of the cost of production, and FCR multiplies the feed price. A 0.10 improvement in broiler FCR is usually worth more than a 10 per tonne discount.