Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)
Feed conversion ratio is the amount of feed required to produce one unit of weight gain in livestock.
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) measures the efficiency with which an animal converts feed into body mass, calculated by dividing total feed consumed by total weight gained. A lower FCR indicates greater efficiency — for example, broiler chickens typically achieve an FCR of 1.6–2.0, while beef cattle range from 5.0–8.0. FCR is one of the most important economic metrics in animal agriculture because feed represents 60–70% of production costs. Genetics, diet formulation, animal health, and environmental conditions all influence FCR. Tracking FCR helps producers identify underperforming animals and optimize feeding programs for profitability.