Zhongyi Bio Animal Nutrition Insights | Poultry & Livestock

Are your pigs eating more feed without gaining enough weight? Before choosing a cheaper ration or adding a new supplement, check how much you spend on feed for each kilogram of liveweight gain. For pig farmers in African markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, this is a practical way to compare feeding options. The right question is: “How can I produce each kilogram of weight gain at a lower feed cost?” ## What Is Feed Conversion Ratio in Pigs? Feed conversion ratio, or FCR, measures the amount of feed needed to produce one kilogram of liveweight gain. FCR = feed used (kg) ÷ liveweight gain (kg) If pigs use 300 kg of feed and gain 100 kg of liveweight, their FCR is 3.0. Under comparable conditions, a lower FCR means less feed is needed for the same weight gain. To track costs, use: Feed cost per kg of gain = FCR × feed price per kg For example, with feed priced at 0.40 USD per kg: - An FCR of 3.0 gives a feed cost of 1.20 USD per kg of gain. - An FCR of 2.8 gives a ...

 For Nigerian layer farmers, feed is one of the biggest costs of running a poultry farm. When feed prices increase, simply buying cheaper feed is not always the best solution. Poor-quality feed, feed wastage, low egg production, heat stress and poor flock management can all increase the cost of producing each egg. The better question is: How much feed does your farm use to produce each egg, and where is that feed being lost? In this article, we will look at seven practical ways layer farmers in Nigeria can control feed costs without compromising bird performance. 1. Start by Calculating Your Feed Cost per Egg Before trying to reduce feed costs, you need to know your current cost. Many farmers know the price of a bag of feed, but they do not always calculate how much feed is required to produce one egg. A simple way to monitor this is: Feed cost per egg = Total daily feed cost ÷ Number of eggs produced per day For example: If a farm spends ₦150,000 on feed in one day and produces 5,...