Fcr Calculator - Feed Conversion Ratio and Feed Efficiency

An FCR calculator is an animal-science and aquaculture tool that turns the total feed consumed by a batch of animals and the batch's total weight gain into the feed conversion ratio (FCR), the inverse feed efficiency, and the cost of producing one kilogram of gain. The FCR is the standard efficiency indicator used in poultry, pig, beef, and fish production because feed usually accounts for the largest share of the cost of raising an animal.

• • Tracking a broiler or pig batch: Enter the number of birds or pigs, the starting and final live weight, and the total feed given, to read off the FCR and the cost of one kilogram of gain for that batch.
• • Comparing two feeds: Run the same batch numbers with two different feed amounts to see which option gives the lower FCR.
• • Auditing a cattle or fish operation: Use it for beef cattle, pangasius, tilapia, or salmon to compare the FCR against the typical species range shown next to the result.

FCR is dimensionless as long as the feed and the gain are in the same unit, so you can use kilograms, pounds, or tonnes, but you have to pick one and use it for both numbers.

The FCR calculator multiplies the number of animals by the difference between the final and starting live weight to get the total weight gain, then divides the total feed consumed by that total weight gain. The feed efficiency is the inverse of the FCR, the total feed cost is the feed quantity times the cost per kilogram, and the feed cost per kilogram of gain is the total feed cost divided by the total weight gain.

• animalCount: Head count fed together.
• startingWeight: Average live weight per animal at the start, in kilograms. Use 0 for day-old chicks or fry.
• finalWeight: Average live weight per animal at the end, in kilograms, before slaughter.
• totalFeedConsumed: Total kilograms of feed the batch actually ate. Use feed consumed, not feed delivered.
• costPerKgFeed: Price per kilogram of feed. Set to 0 to skip the cost outputs.

The ratio is dimensionless, so 1800 lb of feed with 800 lb of gain gives the same 2.25 FCR as the same batch measured in kilograms.

According to Wikipedia, Feed conversion ratio, FCR is the mass of feed input divided by the mass of the output (meat, milk, or eggs), and is widely used in pig, poultry, and aquaculture production as an efficiency indicator.

According to Omni Calculator, Feed Conversion Ratio Calculator, the FCR formula is total feed consumed divided by the total weight of product produced, with the product weight measured as the final weight minus the starting weight of the animals.

When the FCR is being planned for a beef cattle operation, the Cattle Per Acre Calculator gives the matching stocking density for the same pasture, so the FCR result can be paired with the carrying capacity of the land.

These four concepts explain what the FCR number actually means and how the typical FCR range next to the result should be read.

The typical range is a sanity check, not a target. A result inside the range matches normal production for the species, while a result outside the range usually points to an unusual feed, age, or a calculation mistake worth checking.

Since the protein content of the feed is one of the main levers on the FCR, the Crude Protein Calculator gives the crude protein percentage of the same feed so the FCR result can be cross-checked against the diet that was actually fed.

Use the form below to compute the FCR, feed efficiency, and feed cost for a single batch over a single growing cycle, then change the inputs to compare two feeds or two cycles.

1. 1 Enter the number of animals: Type the head count that is being fed together in the batch.
2. 2 Enter the starting and final live weight: Use the average live weight per animal in kilograms at the start and at the end of the cycle. Use 0 for day-old chicks or fry.
3. 3 Enter the total feed consumed: Type the total kilograms of feed the batch actually ate. Use feed consumed, not feed delivered.
4. 4 Enter the cost of feed per kg: Type the price you pay for one kilogram of feed. Set to 0 to skip the cost outputs.
5. 5 Pick the species preset: Pick broiler, pig, beef cattle, fish, or generic livestock. The preset filters the typical FCR range shown next to the result and labels the in-range check.
6. 6 Read the result and the typical range check: Read the FCR, feed efficiency, total weight gain, total feed cost, and feed cost per kg of gain in the results panel, and use the in-range, below-range, or above-range label on the typical range box to sanity-check the calculation.

A broiler farmer running 100 birds from 0.5 kg to 2.5 kg on 400 kg of feed at $0.60/kg gets FCR 2.00, total feed cost $240, and feed cost per kg of gain $1.20, which sits in the middle of the 1.5 to 2.0 broiler range.

Because the FCR depends on the dry matter of the feed, the Dry Matter Calculator gives the dry matter percentage of the same feed so the FCR can be reported on a comparable dry-matter basis across batches and species.

An FCR number turns a vague 'the animals ate this much feed' note into a kilogram of feed per kilogram of gain that you can compare across batches, feeds, and species.

• • Computes the FCR in seconds: Reads off the FCR, feed efficiency, total weight gain, total feed cost, and cost per kg of gain from one panel.
• • Uses the standard FCR formula: Applies FCR = total feed consumed / total weight gain, the same relationship the FAO and the aquaculture industry use.
• • Adds feed efficiency and feed cost: Reports feed efficiency (gain per feed), total feed cost, and feed cost per kg of gain, so the FCR is paired with the cost number needed to make a decision.
• • Sanity-checks the result with a species range: Shows the typical FCR range for the species preset in the results panel and labels the calculated FCR as in-range, below-range, or above-range, so a 6.0 FCR for a broiler or a 1.0 FCR for a beef batch is flagged against the typical species range.

The biggest practical benefit is that the FCR, the feed efficiency, the total feed cost, and the feed cost per kilogram of gain are all visible in one panel, so two batches or two feeds can be compared on the same scale in a single screen.

For a feedlot or pig operation that is also growing its own corn, the Corn Yield Calculator gives the matching yield per acre for the same field, so the FCR result can be paired with the local cost of the homegrown feed.

The largest source of variation in the FCR is the species, the age, and the quality of the feed, with feed wastage and mortality acting as silent multipliers.

• • The result is only as accurate as the feed input, so feed delivered in place of feed consumed will inflate the FCR by 0.1 to 0.3 on land.
• • The FCR is a single batch number, so a 1.6 FCR for a 39-day broiler is not directly comparable to a 1.6 FCR for a 7-month salmon cycle.
• • An FCR below 1 is possible for fish raised in nutrient-rich water where the animal eats both the feed and natural feed in the pond.

The typical range is shown next to the calculated FCR, but the range is a sanity check, not a target, so an unusual feed, stage of growth, or production system can still produce a valid result outside the typical range.

According to FAO, More fuel for the food/feed debate, global feed conversion ratios vary widely by species and production system, with ruminants typically requiring more dry matter per kilogram of product than monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry.

Because mid-cycle mortality drags the average live weight down and pushes the FCR up, the Animal Mortality Rate Calculator gives the matching mortality percentage for the same batch so the FCR result can be paired with the head count that actually finished the cycle.