Why does FCR have to use dry matter?

DM basis allows fair comparison across different feed types. Silage at 35% DM and grain at 90% DM have very different physical weights per unit of energy. An as-fed FCR using wet silage will appear worse than grain FCR even if they deliver the same energy.

Is a lower FCR always better for profitability?

Lower FCR means less feed per kg of gain — generally better. But the key metric is cost of gain. A $400/t ration at FCR 6.5 ($2.60/kg) may be less profitable than a $300/t ration at FCR 8.0 ($2.40/kg) despite the worse FCR.

How does FCR relate to ADG and feed intake?

ADG = Feed intake per day / FCR. At 10 kg DM/day with FCR 7.0: ADG = 10/7 = 1.43 kg/day. Improving FCR or increasing intake both improve ADG.

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) — Free Agriculture Calculator

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Feedlot closeout on pen 14 — 90-day grain program finished yesterday. You need FCR and cost of gain before the performance summary goes to the owner this afternoon.

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

Livestock

Total feed consumed (kg)

Dry matter basis for accuracy

Total weight gained (kg)

Species

Feed cost ($/tonne) — optional

FCR = Feed consumed (kg) ÷ Weight gained (kg) Lower FCR = more efficient. Industry benchmarks:
Feedlot cattle: 6–8 · Grass-fed cattle: 12–18 · Sheep: 6–9 · Lamb: 5–8 · Pig: 2.5–3.5 · Broiler: 1.8–2.2
Improving FCR: optimise ration energy density, control feed wastage, manage parasite burden, ensure ad-lib water.

Reference: MLA — Meat & Livestock Australia · NSW DPI Livestock

ℹ️ Results are estimates for planning purposes. Verify with current standards and a qualified professional.

1 What this calculator does

Calculates Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Feed Efficiency (FE%), cost of gain per kg liveweight, and total feed cost for a pen or group. All calculations use dry matter (DM) basis.

2 Formula & professional reasoning

FCR = Total feed DM consumed (kg) / Total weight gained (kg)
FE% = 1 / FCR x 100
Cost of gain ($/kg LWG) = Feed cost ($/tonne DM) x FCR / 1,000

FCR measures kg of dry matter feed per 1 kg of liveweight gain. A feedlot steer on grain achieves FCR 6-7. Feed must be on a DM basis — wet feeds (silage, high-moisture grain) must be converted otherwise FCR appears artificially better. Cost of gain converts FCR to a dollar value comparable directly against the target sale price.

3 Worked examples

⚠️ Illustrative example only — not clinical or professional instruction.

Basic

Feedlot pen closeout — 90-day grain program

Given: Feed DM: 6,240 kg | Weight gained: 945 kg (15 head x 63 kg avg) | Feed cost: $380/t DM

Working: FCR: 6,240 / 945 = 6.60 | Cost of gain: 380 x 6.60 / 1,000

Answer: FCR: 6.60 | FE: 15.2% | Cost of gain: $2.51/kg LWG

💡 FCR 6.6 is good for a 90-day AU grain-fed program. Benchmark target: FCR 7.0 or less.

Standard

Sheep grain supplementation during dry period

Given: Feed DM: 2,100 kg | Weight gained: 210 kg (30 ewes x 7 kg) | Feed cost: $280/t

Working: FCR: 2,100 / 210 = 10.0 | Cost of gain: 280 x 10.0 / 1,000

Answer: FCR: 10.0 | Cost of gain: $2.80/kg LWG

💡 FCR 10 typical for ewes through a dry period. At $4.50/kg LW, $2.80/kg cost of gain leaves $1.70/kg margin.

Advanced

Compare two rations — is the premium worth it?

Given: Old ration: FCR 8.2, cost $290/t DM | New ration: FCR 6.9, cost $340/t DM

Working: Old cost of gain: 290 x 8.2 / 1,000 = $2.38/kg | New: 340 x 6.9 / 1,000 = $2.35/kg

Answer: New ration saves $0.03/kg LWG — marginal benefit

💡 Premium ration costs more per tonne but improved FCR almost offsets the cost. Benefit is negligible unless faster FCR also shortens days on feed.

4 Sanity check

Feedlot FCR benchmarks (grain-fed steers)

Excellent: <6.5 | Good: 6.5-7.5 | Average: 7.5-8.5 | Poor: >8.5

Backgrounding pasture FCR equivalent

30-50 kg DM/kg gain — but pasture is cheap so cost of gain can still be low

Compare cost of gain to target price

Cost of gain should be less than target LW price minus desired margin

DM conversion reference

Silage: typically 35% DM | Grain: 88-92% DM

Always convert all feeds to DM basis before calculating FCR.

5 Common errors

Error	Cause	Consequence	Fix
Using as-fed weight instead of dry matter	Weighing wet silage without DM conversion	FCR appears lower (better) than actual — wrong management decisions	Convert all feeds to DM: silage typically 35% DM means 100 kg as-fed = 35 kg DM.
Feed delivered not feed consumed	Not accounting for refusals	FCR underestimated — ration appears more efficient than it is	FCR = feed consumed (delivered minus refusals). Weigh refusals accurately.
Not adjusting for deaths and hospital removals	Using pen entry and exit headcount without adjusting	Weight gain per head understated — FCR appears worse	Adjust for all animals removed: deaths, hospital removes, early drafts.
Comparing FCR between different weight classes	Comparing lightweight weaners to heavy finishers	Unfair comparison — lighter animals have inherently better FCR	Only compare FCR between animals of similar weight range and feeding system.