Feed Conversion Ratio

The feed conversion ratio (FCR) shows how efficiently poultry converts feed into useful output. In commercial broiler production, it is the quantity of feed consumed for each unit of body-weight gain; therefore, a lower ratio generally indicates better feed efficiency.

Calculation and interpretation

For broilers, FCR is calculated as total feed consumed divided by total live-weight gain, using the same weight units. For example, 3 kg of feed producing 2 kg of weight gain gives an FCR of 1.5.

• A lower FCR indicates that less feed is needed for each unit of weight gain, while a higher FCR indicates poorer feed-use efficiency.
• FCR comparisons are meaningful only when the production period, bird type, market weight and management conditions are comparable.

Application to different poultry outputs

In meat production, FCR is usually expressed as kilograms of feed per kilogram of body-weight gain. In layer production, feed efficiency may instead be measured against egg mass or the number of eggs produced.

Economic significance

FCR links biological performance with production economics because feed is a major input in commercial poultry farming. A lower FCR, other things being equal, reduces the quantity and cost of feed required per unit of saleable output.

• FCR reflects the combined influence of breed, feed quality, bird health, age, housing conditions and farm management.
• It is not a complete measure of profitability because mortality, growth rate, input prices and the selling price of poultry output also matter.