Production · February 28, 2026 · 5 min read
How to improve feed conversion with better data
Small improvements in FCR compound into significant margin gains. Here's what to measure and when to act.
Feed conversion ratio — kilograms of feed per kilogram of live weight gained — is the single metric that most directly ties daily management to farm profitability. A shift from 1.65 to 1.60 on a 50,000-bird broiler batch can mean thousands in saved feed cost.
The challenge isn't calculating FCR. It's having accurate, timely inputs: correct bird counts, consistent weighing samples, and feed issuance logged at the house level, not estimated at month-end.
Measure at the right intervals
Weekly weight samples from representative pens give you a growth curve you can compare against breed standards. Pair this with cumulative feed per bird and you get a running FCR trend, not just a final number at processing.
When FCR drifts above target in weeks 3–4, investigate immediately: feed quality, water availability, ventilation, or health issues often show up in the data before they're obvious in the house.
Segment by house and batch
Farm-wide averages hide problems. One underperforming house can drag down a site average while others run efficiently. House-level FCR lets you assign follow-up to the right supervisor and compare management practices across teams.
Historical comparison across batches in the same house reveals structural issues — poor insulation, feeder placement, drinker height — versus one-off events.
Close the loop with your nutritionist
Export house-level feed and growth data before every nutrition review. Decisions about ration changes, pellet size, or phase feeding should be based on your farm's actual performance, not industry tables alone.