Broiler Feed Conversion Calculator
Calculate feed conversion ratio (FCR) and cost per pound of gain for broiler flocks. Compare your FCR against industry benchmarks.
About this calculator
Feed Conversion Ratio is the single most-watched efficiency number in broiler production: it's simply Total Feed Consumed divided by Total Weight Gain, so a flock that eats 1.7 lbs of feed for every pound it gains has an FCR of 1.7. Lower is always better -- it means the flock is turning feed into meat more efficiently. This calculator compares your entered feed and gain totals against commercial benchmark bands (1.6 or below is excellent, up to 1.8 is good, up to 2.0 is average, above 2.5 is poor) and converts your Feed Cost per ton into a Cost per Pound of Gain, which is often the more actionable number for evaluating a feed program's actual economics.
Total Feed Consumed and Total Weight Gain both move the FCR, in opposite directions -- more feed for the same gain worsens FCR, more gain for the same feed improves it -- while Feed Cost per ton has no effect on FCR at all, since FCR is a purely physical feed-to-gain ratio; feed cost only enters the Cost per Pound of Gain and Total Feed Cost figures. This calculator does not account for mortality-adjusted FCR, which some operations use to separate feed efficiency from flock health, so a flock with high early mortality can show an FCR that looks better than its true production efficiency.
Inputs
Results
Feed Conversion Ratio
1.72
Cost per Pound of Gain
$0.28
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter total feed consumed in pounds and total weight gain in pounds for the flock or sample group.
- Input your feed cost per ton to calculate the cost per pound of live weight gained.
- Review Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) — lower is better; 1.6 or below is excellent for commercial broilers.
- Check Cost per Pound of Gain to evaluate your feed program's economic efficiency.
- Compare your FCR against the benchmark chart to identify performance improvement opportunities.
How the result changes with Total Weight Gain
| Total Weight Gain | Feed Conversion Ratio | Cost per Pound of Gain |
|---|---|---|
| 2,900 | 3.45 | $0.55 |
| 4,350 | 2.3 | $0.37 |
| 8,700 | 1.15 | $0.18 |
| 14,500 | 0.69 | $0.11 |
What each input means
- Total Feed Consumed
- Total pounds of feed consumed by the flock over the grow-out period.
- Total Weight Gain
- Total live weight gained by the flock (final weight minus placement weight).
- Feed Cost
- Cost of feed per ton (2,000 lbs). Varies by region and formulation.
What each result means
- Feed Conversion Ratio
- Pounds of feed per pound of live weight gain. Lower is better.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters3 parametersTotal Feed Consumed = 10000, Total Weight Gain = 5800, Feed Cost = 320 = 3 input(s) provided
- Calculate Feed Conversion RatioFeed Conversion Ratio1.724 = 1.724
- Calculate Cost per Pound of GainCost per Pound of Gain0.28 = $0.28
- Calculate Total Feed CostTotal Feed Cost1600 = $1,600
- Calculate Feed EfficiencyFeed Efficiency58 = 58%
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Feed Conversion Ratio actually measuring?
FCR is Total Feed Consumed divided by Total Weight Gain -- literally how many pounds of feed it took to add one pound of live weight to the flock. An FCR of 1.7 means 1.7 lbs of feed were consumed for every pound gained, and lower values always indicate more efficient feed use.
Does raising feed cost per ton change my FCR?
No. FCR is a purely physical ratio of feed consumed to weight gained, so changing Feed Cost per ton has no effect on it at all. Feed cost only affects the Cost per Pound of Gain and Total Feed Cost outputs, which combine your FCR with the price you paid for feed.
Why would two flocks with the same FCR have different Cost per Pound of Gain?
Cost per Pound of Gain multiplies your FCR by the feed's cost per pound, so two flocks with identical FCR but different Feed Cost per ton will show different costs per pound of gain. A flock on cheaper feed can have a higher FCR than a competitor and still cost less per pound gained.
What FCR range counts as excellent for commercial broilers?
This calculator rates 1.6 or below as Excellent, up to 1.8 as Good, up to 2.0 as Average, and up to 2.5 as Below Average, with anything higher rated Poor. These bands reflect typical modern commercial broiler performance; heritage or pasture-raised breeds commonly run higher FCRs without necessarily indicating a problem.
Does this FCR account for flock mortality?
No, this is a straight feed-to-gain ratio using the totals you enter, not a mortality-adjusted FCR. Some operations track mortality-corrected feed conversion separately, since a flock with elevated mortality can show a misleadingly good raw FCR because the birds that died stopped consuming feed partway through the grow-out.
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