If you’ve been farming poultry in Nigeria for any length of time, you already know feed is your biggest cost element. Depending on the type of operation, it can account for 65-75% of your total production expenses. So, it’s natural to shop for the cheapest feed available in the market.
But “paying less per bag of feed” and “spending less to raise a bird/ produce a crate of eggs” are two very different metrics. And the gap between them is where many Nigerian poultry farmers are quietly losing money.
The number that actually matters: Feed Conversion Ratio
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) tells you how many kilograms of feed it takes to produce one kilogram of live bird/a dozen eggs. It is the real measure of what the feed is costing you – not the price tag on the bag.
Here’s a simple way to see it:
- Feed A costs ₦18,000 per 25kg bag, with an FCR of 2.2
- Feed B costs ₦16,500 per 25kg bag, with an FCR of 2.6
Feed B looks like the better deal until you calculate what it actually takes to bring a bird to market weight. A lower-quality feed will mean your birds eat more, grow slower, and take longer to reach target weight, which also means more days of housing, higher labour expenses, and increased overhead cost per bird. This ends up costing more per kilogram of bird produced. This is the calculation that separates farms that scrape by from farms that grow.
What does this mean for how you buy feed?
This isn’t the case for “buy the most expensive option available.” It’s a case for asking better questions before you buy:
- What’s the actual cost-to-value of this feed, not just the cost-per-bag?
- Is the feed formulated specifically for the bird age and purpose (starter, grower, finisher, layer)?
- Has the producer demonstrated consistent, stable quality over a period of time- not just intermittent good batches? A feed that costs slightly more per bag but performs more efficiently and delivers better value overall (lower FCR) isn’t the expensive option. It’s usually the cheaper one.
Where we come in
Our products at Livestock Feeds Plc tick all the boxes… we not only give you good prices but also match that with consistent, standardized feed that meets the specific nutrient requirements of your birds.
If you’re currently choosing feed on price alone, it might be worth running the full numbers before your next purchase. The answer might surprise you.
Have questions about feed performance on your farm, or want to know more about our feed range? Reach out to us or visit your nearest Livestock Feeds Plc distributor.
