Feed conversion ratio, or FCR, is a simple number that tells you how much feed it takes to grow one kilo of fish. It shows whether your feeding is working.
FCR = feed given (kg) ÷ weight gained by the fish (kg)
A worked example
If you gave 150 kg of feed and the fish gained 100 kg, the FCR is 150 ÷ 100 = 1.5. It took 1.5 kg of feed to grow each 1 kg of fish.
| Example | Feed given (kg) | Fish gained (kg) | FCR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pond A | 150 | 100 | 1.5 |
| Pond B | 180 | 100 | 1.8 |
A lower number is better
A lower FCR means less feed for every kilo of fish, so lower feed cost. If the FCR goes up, something is wrong: wasted feed, poor water, sick fish, or the wrong feed.
What you need to measure
- Feed given: write down the weight of feed every day.
- Fish weight at the start: weigh a sample of fish and multiply by the number of fish.
- Fish weight at the end: weigh the harvest, or a sample.
What changes your FCR
- The feed you use, and how well the fish eat it.
- How you feed. Floating feed lets you see the fish and stop when they stop, which cuts waste.
- The water, the weather and the health of the fish.
- Dead fish and fish that escape, which you must count.
Compare your FCR with your own earlier ponds rather than with other farms. Pond, fish and weather are never the same.
A fair way to use FCR
Not sure what suits your farm? Call or WhatsApp us on +977 9820757735 and tell us what you keep. We will help you choose. You can also see our floating fish feed, or read the questions farmers ask us.
