Broiler FCR Calculator: Zimbabwe Standard
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) is the single most important profitability metric for Zimbabwe broiler farmers. It measures how many kilograms of feed your birds need to gain one kilogram of live weight. A lower FCR means your birds are converting feed into meat more efficiently, which means your profit per bird is higher.
How to Calculate FCR
FCR = Total Feed Consumed (kg) ÷ Total Live Weight Gained (kg). For a batch of 500 Cobb 500 birds at day 35 with an average weight of 1,780g and total feed consumed of 3,750kg: FCR = 3,750 ÷ (1.780 × 500) = 3,750 ÷ 890 = 4.21. Note: that's too high. That example included cumulative feed per bird, not total batch feed. Correct: FCR = (3.750 kg/bird × 500 birds) ÷ (1.780 kg × 500 birds) = 3.750 ÷ 1.780 = 2.11. Target for day 35 Cobb 500 is exactly 2.11.
Zimbabwe FCR Benchmarks by Batch Day
These are Cobb 500 targets under standard Zimbabwe conditions (National Foods Pfuma rations, 23% starter protein, 20% grower). Day 14: target 1.40. Day 21: target 1.69. Day 28: target 1.90. Day 35: target 2.11. Day 42: target 2.27. If your FCR is more than 10% above these targets at any checkpoint, investigate feed quality, water access, disease pressure, and stocking density immediately.
Common Causes of High FCR in Zimbabwe
Power outages disrupting brooder temperature (cold stress → birds burn feed for warmth). Feed spillage (up to 15% feed loss from poorly adjusted feeders). Water restriction (dehydrated birds stop eating but stress hormones persist). Newcastle or Gumboro challenge (sub-clinical disease suppresses growth). Aflatoxin contamination in locally sourced maize-based feeds (check supplier certification). Incorrect feed phase, keeping birds on starter feed beyond day 14 wastes money and inflates FCR.
How FarmIQ Tracks FCR Automatically
FarmIQ calculates your FCR in real time from daily feed logs and weight sample entries. The system automatically flags when FCR deviates more than 15% from Cobb 500 targets. You get an alert before the problem compounds. At batch close, your Grower Performance Report includes FCR alongside mortality, feed cost per kg, and profitability, the same data format that Irvines and other integrators use to evaluate growers.
FarmIQ Platform
Track FCR automatically for every batch, free for your first farm.
This guide is maintained by the FarmIQ team based on real operator data from Zimbabwe farms. Last reviewed: April 2026.