How to maximise broiler feed conversion ratio
Broiler feed conversion ratio (FCR) measures how much feed a bird requires to produce one kilo of poultry meat.
It can also be viewed as an indication of flock health because a higher FCR indicates sub-optimal performance – which can be caused by poor health.
Elanco’s Intestinal Integrity (I²) score highlights the link between intestinal health and FCR.
What is the Intestinal Integrity (I2) score?
The Intestinal Integrity score is a unique, weighted index that gives flocks a score of between 0 and 100, based on 23 health conditions known to negatively impact intestinal health.
For many farms, a score of 90 or below is an indication that poor intestinal health may be having a significant impact on FCR and bird performance.
Farms with poorer I² scores also tend to have higher antibiotic usage1, as well as the need for more feed, water, and space to produce one kilo of poultry meat.
How does intestinal health impact FCR?
Elanco’s white paper – Intestinal Integrity: A critical parameter in sustainable broiler production – explains how poor Intestinal Integrity results in impaired feed conversion ratios (FCR).
It covers intestinal diseases that impact FCR including:
- Coccidiosis – One of the most prevalent, and damaging, parasitic diseases in poultry production, which costs the global industry more than £8 billion annually1.
- Necrotic enteritis – The sub-clinical form of this disease is estimated to cost the industry up to £4.7 billion every year1. It causes chronic damage to the small intestinal mucosa and can result in a 44% increase in FCR2.
How to influence broiler FCR
Broiler producers can make a positive impact on the FCR of their flocks by taking steps to tackle intestinal health challenges, such as coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis.
By getting an I² score for their flocks, they can assess the intestinal health of their birds and look for areas of improvement.
Every one unit increase in I² score results in a 0.13 point decrease in FCR1.
To find out more about Intestinal Integrity (I2) read below:
- Elanco white paper, Intestinal Integrity: A critical parameter in sustainable broiler production. (2023).
- Timbermont et al. (2011).
- Elanco white paper, Intestinal Integrity: A critical parameter in sustainable broiler production. (2023).
- Intestinal Integrity is key to broiler performance
