Feed Conversion Ratio Calculator & Feed per kg of Gain
Rates broilers
Measure your feed conversion ratio — from feed eaten and weight gained get the FCR, average daily gain, feed cost per kg of gain and margin over feed, benchmarked for your species.
Enter your feed & gain
Next: improve FCR with better-quality, balanced feed; cut waste (spillage, spoilage); keep stock healthy (disease and stress burn feed for no gain); and match feed form to age/stage.
FCR = feed eaten ÷ weight gained; benchmarks vary by species, age and system.
FCR — key facts
- Formula
- feed ÷ gain
- Broiler
- ≈ 1.5–1.7
- Fish
- ≈ 1.2–1.5
- Pig
- ≈ 2.6–3.0
- Cattle (feedlot)
- ≈ 6–8
- Cost of gain
- FCR × feed price
- Feed share of cost
- ≈ 60–70%
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
The number that decides livestock profit
Feed is the biggest cost in almost any animal enterprise — typically 60–70% of the total — so how efficiently your animals turn feed into weight largely decides whether you profit. That efficiency is the feed conversion ratio: kilograms of feed per kilogram of gain. Lower is better, and even a small improvement multiplies across a whole flock or herd into real money.
This tool computes your FCR and rates it against the right benchmark for your species, then translates it into the figures that matter for the bank: average daily gain, the feed cost of each kilogram of gain, and your margin over feed. Track it batch to batch, fix the things that worsen it — feed quality, waste, disease, stress — and market animals at the right weight before efficiency falls. Pair it with the Livestock Feed and Poultry & Egg Profit tools.
Benchmark your flock
See instantly if your FCR is excellent, typical or wasting feed.
Cost every kg of gain
Turn FCR and feed price into the real cost of adding weight.
Check the margin
Compare cost of gain to sale price to see profit over feed.
Track improvement
Re-run each batch to prove changes are cutting your FCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is feed conversion ratio (FCR)?+
FCR is the kilograms of feed needed to produce one kilogram of body-weight gain: FCR = feed eaten ÷ weight gained. A lower FCR means more efficient animals. For example, 1000 kg of feed producing 600 kg of gain is an FCR of 1.67 — typical for broiler chickens.
What is a good FCR?+
It varies by species: broiler chickens ~1.5–1.7, fish ~1.2–1.5, shrimp ~1.3–1.6, pigs ~2.6–3.0, sheep/goats ~4.5–6, and feedlot cattle ~6–8. This tool compares your FCR to the chosen species' good and typical benchmarks and rates it excellent, good, fair or poor.
How do I calculate FCR?+
Weigh the total feed consumed over a period and the total live-weight gained (final weight minus starting weight) for the same animals, then divide: FCR = feed ÷ gain. Use the same units (kg) and the same group and period for both figures so the ratio is valid.
Why does a lower FCR matter?+
Feed is usually 60–70% of the cost of raising animals, so even a small drop in FCR is a big saving. A broiler flock going from 1.8 to 1.6 FCR uses about 11% less feed for the same meat — straight onto the bottom line. FCR is the single most-watched efficiency number in livestock.
What is cost of gain?+
Cost of gain (per kg) = FCR × feed price per kg — the feed cost to add one kilogram of body weight. If FCR is 1.67 and feed is ₹30/kg, each kg of gain costs about ₹50 in feed. Compare it to the live-weight selling price to see your margin over feed.
What is average daily gain (ADG)?+
ADG is the weight an animal puts on per day: total gain ÷ number of animals ÷ days. It measures growth speed, while FCR measures efficiency — you want high ADG and low FCR together. The tool reports both when you enter animal numbers and the period in days.
What worsens FCR?+
Poor-quality or imbalanced feed, feed wastage, disease and parasites, heat or cold stress, overcrowding, dirty water, and animals kept past their efficient growth phase (older animals convert feed less efficiently). Fixing these is usually cheaper than buying more feed.
Does FCR change with age?+
Yes — young animals convert feed very efficiently (low FCR) and it rises as they mature, because more feed goes to maintenance rather than growth. That's why FCR is quoted for a defined period or weight range, and why timely marketing at the target weight protects efficiency.
How is fish/shrimp FCR different?+
Aquaculture species are cold-blooded and don't spend energy keeping warm, so they convert feed very efficiently — fish FCRs of 1.2–1.5 are normal, better than land animals. Wastage into the water and water quality strongly affect the real FCR, so feeding management matters a lot.
Is margin over feed the whole profit?+
No — margin over feed (sale price minus cost of gain) ignores chicks/stock, housing, labour, health and overheads. But because feed dominates the cost, it's the fastest profitability check. Use it alongside the Poultry & Egg Profit and Dairy Profit tools for the full picture.