If you only ever track one number on your farm, make it Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). It is the single biggest lever for profit in any livestock or poultry enterprise.
What is FCR?
Feed Conversion Ratio tells you how many kilograms of feed it takes to produce one kilogram of live weight gain. The formula is simple:
FCR = Total feed consumed (kg) ÷ Total weight gained (kg)
A broiler batch that consumes 2,000 kg of feed and gains 1,000 kg of live weight has an FCR of 2.0. A beef feedlot animal that eats 800 kg to gain 100 kg has an FCR of 8.0.
What are good FCR targets?
- Broilers (5–6 weeks): 1.6–1.9
- Layers (per kg egg mass): 2.0–2.2
- Pigs (grower phase): 2.2–2.8
- Beef feedlot: 6.5–8.5
- Tilapia: 1.2–1.8
Why does a small FCR improvement matter so much?
Consider a broiler operation running 10,000 birds per cycle. At an FCR of 2.0 and 2.5 kg final weight, you feed 50,000 kg per batch. If feed costs R8/kg, your feed bill is R400,000 per batch.
Improve your FCR from 2.0 to 1.85 and you feed only 46,250 kg — saving R30,000 per batch. Run six batches per year: that's R180,000 saved on the same output. That's not theory — that's what better management records make visible and actionable.
The causes of poor FCR
FCR deteriorates for predictable reasons, and most of them show up in the records first:
- Subclinical disease (respiratory, gut) that reduces absorption without obvious symptoms
- Feed wastage from poorly adjusted feeders or drinker spillage wetting feed
- Incorrect rations for the growth phase
- Inconsistent feed delivery — over-fasting or over-feeding events
- Heat stress reducing voluntary feed intake while maintenance requirements rise
Tracking FCR in practice
You need three things: regular weight samples (every 7–10 days), accurate daily feed issue records, and mortality recorded by date and weight. FuroTrack calculates FCR automatically from those three record types — you don't need a spreadsheet or formula.
The moment your FCR starts creeping above target, the system flags it. Early detection means early action, before the margin has already been lost.
Ready to try FuroTrack on your farm?
Create a trial workspace without a payment card and set up your first farm records.
Start Free Trial