What feed conversion ratio are you getting?

[Country Parson]

My last batch of 20 meaties I was at 4.22:1 (4.22lbs feed per 1lb meat), butchered at 8wks. I've heard the industry ratio is 2:1. What are you more experienced raisers getting?

 

[bigredfeather]

Do you base you FCR on the live weight or processed weight? The industry uses live weight, so if you used processed weight (I do because I don't weigh them when they're alive), your comparison is a bit skewed. To actually compare, add 1/3 of the total weight of the processed total, then divide by total pounds of feed. At six weeks will be your best FCR. I checked a few batches I processed at six week and it was 2.5:1 (that's using dressed weight). At 8 weeks it jumped to almost 4:1. That goes to show this breed is meant to be raised to 6 weeks (they sometimes call them the "42 day wonders."