Feed performance questions: start with evidence, not the purchase
Short answer: a change in FCR, pellet condition or feed cost is a signal to investigate, not proof of a feed or supplier fault. Reconcile your records, check safety and compare options with explicit assumptions before requesting a qualified review.
Choose the decision you need to make
Why is performance failing?
How do I improve the process safely?
Quick diagnosis
| If you see… | Check first | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| More feed per kg of gain than your own previous batches | Records: same period, same animals, mortality included? | Why is my feed conversion ratio (FCR) poor? |
| Feed cost per tonne changes sharply between orders | Which ingredient is the largest share of cost? | How do I manage feed ingredient price volatility? |
| High fines at the farm or in bags | Grind size consistent? | Why is my pellet quality poor (too many fines)? |
| Moldy or discolored grain | Do contracts state mycotoxin limits and test methods? | How do I reduce mycotoxin risk in feed? |
| Output below nameplate capacity | Which section limits throughput? | How can I improve existing farm feed-preparation efficiency? |
| Demand above current capacity | How many sections limit output? | Should I retrofit my feed line or buy new? |
Why is my feed conversion ratio (FCR) poor?
FCR compares recorded feed input with a defined output, such as liveweight gain; it is not proof of feed intake or a diagnosis. Waste, mismatched stage, environmental or health changes and recording errors can affect the result. Reconcile feed delivered, feed left, mortality and weights for the same period. For fish and shrimp, document biomass estimates and survival separately.
Symptoms
- More feed per kg of gain than your own previous batches
- Uneven growth within a group
- Visible feed spillage or fines in feeders
Check in this order
- Records: same period, same animals, mortality included?
- Waste: spillage, feeder setting, fines in pellets?
- Feed: does the lab analysis match the specification?
- Health and environment: temperature, water, disease — check with your veterinarian
When to get expert help: Changing the formula or diagnosing disease needs a nutritionist and veterinarian.
FCR calculator →FCR cost impact →FCR profit sensitivity →Feed waste cost →
Request a review of this problemPlan a project for this problemHow do I manage feed ingredient price volatility?
You can't control world prices, but you can control exposure: know your cost per tonne at today's quotes, test which ingredients your nutritionist allows you to substitute, stagger purchase timing and compare delivered (not FOB) prices on the same date.
Symptoms
- Feed cost per tonne changes sharply between orders
- Quotes valid for only days
- One ingredient dominates your cost
Check in this order
- Which ingredient is the largest share of cost?
- What are the allowed substitutes and maximum inclusions?
- Are quotes compared on the same Incoterm, currency and date?
When to get expert help: Substitution limits must come from your nutritionist; hedging or financing decisions from a qualified adviser.
Cost-per-tonne scenario planner →Price change impact →Ingredient cost comparison →Ingredient cost guide 2026 →
Request a review of this problemPlan a project for this problemWhy is my pellet quality poor (too many fines)?
Formulation, particle size, conditioning, die specification, cooling and handling can affect pellet condition. Compare representative samples at delivery and feeders with the same sieve and method before blaming equipment. Fines percentage and pellet durability index (PDI) are different measurements; neither alone establishes feed waste or an FCR improvement.
Symptoms
- High fines at the farm or in bags
- Low PDI test results
- Pellets crumble in transport
Check in this order
- Grind size consistent?
- Conditioning temperature and retention as specified?
- Die worn or wrong compression ratio?
- Cooler and screening working?
When to get expert help: Process changes should be set by the equipment supplier's engineer or a feed-milling specialist.
Pellet mill guide →Pellet mill sourcing →Pellet mill vs extrusion →
Request a review of this problemPlan a project for this problemHow do I reduce mycotoxin risk in feed?
Manage mycotoxin risk with lot identity, representative sampling, relevant laboratory tests and safe storage. Hold questionable lots and follow your safety procedure; visual mould or a generic certificate cannot establish safety. Do not dilute suspect feed or treat a binder as permission to use it.
Symptoms
- Moldy or discolored grain
- Lot test results above your limits
- Unexplained drops in intake or performance (veterinary check needed)
Check in this order
- Do contracts state mycotoxin limits and test methods?
- Is each lot sampled correctly before unloading?
- Are storage moisture and temperature controlled?
When to get expert help: Regulatory limits vary by country and species — confirm with your authority; animal health issues need a veterinarian.
Mycotoxin–FCR calculator →Binder specifications →Ingredient lot comparison →
Request a review of this problemPlan a project for this problemHow can I improve existing farm feed-preparation efficiency?
Find the bottleneck before investing: measure actual tonnes per hour, downtime and energy per tonne at each section (intake, grinding, mixing, conditioning, pelleting, cooling, bagging). The slowest section sets the whole line's output.
Symptoms
- Output below nameplate capacity
- Frequent stops or changeovers
- Rising energy or labour cost per tonne
Check in this order
- Which section limits throughput?
- How many hours are lost to stops?
- What is cost per tonne today?
When to get expert help: Line changes need an engineer's assessment of your actual equipment.
Production cost per tonne →Mill cost per tonne guide →Labour cost calculator →
Request a review of this problemPlan a project for this problemShould I retrofit my feed line or buy new?
For an existing line, test whether a repair or targeted retrofit addresses the measured constraint before considering replacement. Condition, utilities, safety, product specification and achievable operating hours matter more than the number of worn sections. Compare like-for-like written scopes, downtime and net cash benefits; unknown benefits cannot justify a payback forecast.
Symptoms
- Demand above current capacity
- Repeated breakdowns of one section
- New product type needed
Check in this order
- How many sections limit output?
- How much downtime can you accept during works?
- Do you have comparable quotes for both options?
When to get expert help: Structural, electrical and process design must be verified by qualified engineers.
Retrofit solutions →New vs retrofit →Upgrade FAQ →TCO supplier comparison →
Request a review of this problemPlan a project for this problemSources and evidence boundaries
These references support sampling, feed safety, pellet testing and energy-audit methods. They do not establish a supplier's performance, current delivered prices or investment returns. Use dated lot records, comparable quotations and qualified review for your own decision.
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Educational guidance by the FeedMatch Group team, 17 October 2026. Not veterinary, nutritional or engineering advice.