Feed Conversion Ratio Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026
📚 Confused about how this is calculated? Read the full The Decades-Long Improvement in Broiler FCR, and What It Means for Environmental Footprint →
How efficiently feed becomes weight gain
FCR is one of the most closely watched efficiency metrics in livestock production, directly reflecting how much feed input is required to generate each unit of weight gain output.
Worked example
For 3.2 kg of feed consumed producing 2 kg of weight gain:
FCR = 3.2 / 2 = 1.6:1
| Species | Typical FCR Range |
|---|---|
| Broiler chickens | 1.5 - 1.8 |
| Pigs | 2.5 - 3.5 |
| Cattle | 6 - 8+ |
Lower FCR means more efficient feed conversion - the dramatic difference between species reflects fundamentally different metabolic efficiency, body composition, and growth rates, which is why FCR benchmarks are only meaningful when compared within the same species and production system.