Feed Efficiency and Feed Choices: The Biggest Lever for Better Environmental Performance chicken feed efficiency

When people think about the environmental footprint of chicken production, they may immediately think about barns, heating, transportation or electricity.

But there is another part of the production system that deserves much more attention:

Feed.

Feed is not simply something chickens eat. It represents a long chain of agricultural activity involving crops, fertilizer, land, water, processing, transportation and feed manufacturing.

According to the Chicken Farmers of Canada's 2025 Life Cycle Assessment, feed accounts for about half of the environmental impacts measured across Canadian chicken production from the breeder flock through to the processor gate. The assessment also found that Canada's chicken sector reduced its feed conversion ratio by 6% between 2016 and 2023, while the carbon footprint of feed itself decreased by approximately 10%.

That makes feed efficiency one of the most important areas for continued improvement.

So what does feed efficiency actually mean?

And how can better feed choices help Canadian chicken producers improve both production performance and environmental results?

What Is Feed Efficiency?

Feed efficiency describes how effectively an animal converts feed nutrients into useful production.

For broiler chickens, one commonly used measurement is the feed conversion ratio (FCR).

In simple terms:

FCR = amount of feed used ÷ amount of weight gained

A lower FCR generally means that less feed is required to produce the same amount of chicken.

That matters economically because feed is a major production input.

It also matters environmentally.

If a bird requires less feed to reach its target weight, fewer resources may be needed to produce, process and transport that feed.

Why Does Feed Have Such a Large Environmental Impact?

A bag or truckload of poultry feed represents much more than the ingredients visible at the feed mill.

Consider what happens before feed reaches the farm.

Crops may require:

• Land

• Seed

• Fertilizer

• Water

• Fuel

• Farm machinery

• Storage

• Processing

• Transportation

  
  

Those inputs all contribute to the environmental footprint associated with feed.

The Chicken Farmers of Canada's LCA evaluates the chicken value chain from hatching eggs through hatcheries, feed, farms, transportation and processing.

Better Feed Efficiency Means More Than Simply Feeding Less

It can be tempting to think:

"If less feed is better, just reduce the amount of feed."

That is not how poultry nutrition works.

Chickens need enough nutrients to support:

• Growth

• Muscle development

• Health

• Immune function

• Bone development

• Normal metabolism

  
  

Ontario's poultry nutrition guidance explains that poultry diets must provide appropriate levels of energy, protein, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. Requirements also change according to species, age and production stage.

The goal is therefore not simply less feed.

The goal is:

More useful nutrition from every kilogram of feed.

Feed Quality and Feed Formulation Matter

A good poultry ration is carefully formulated around the nutritional requirements of the birds.

Common feed ingredients can include:

• Corn

• Wheat

• Barley

• Soybean meal

• Canola meal

• Other protein sources

• Oils and fats

• Vitamins

• Minerals

• Amino acids

• Enzymes and other approved feed additives

Ontario's poultry nutrition guidance notes that grains such as corn, wheat, barley and oats can form important parts of poultry diets, while protein and amino-acid sources are necessary to meet nutritional requirements.

Protein Percentage Isn't the Whole Story

One of the most common questions poultry owners ask is:

"How much protein does this chicken feed have?"

Protein is important.

But protein percentage alone does not tell you whether a ration is properly balanced.

Poultry require specific amino acids, including lysine, methionine, threonine and others.

A ration needs to provide the right nutrients in the right proportions.

Ontario's poultry nutrition guidance identifies 10 essential amino acids for poultry and explains that feed ingredients and supplementary amino acids can be used to meet nutritional requirements

FAQs

What is feed efficiency in chicken production?

Feed efficiency measures how effectively chickens convert feed into production. For broilers, feed conversion ratio is commonly used to measure how much feed is required for a given amount of weight gain.

Why is chicken feed important for environmental sustainability?

Feed represents a major part of the environmental footprint of Canadian chicken production because producing feed requires crops, land, fertilizer, water, energy and transportation. Chicken Farmers of Canada reports that feed accounts for about half of the sector's measured environmental impacts in its latest LCA.

What is feed conversion ratio?

Feed conversion ratio, or FCR, is generally the amount of feed required relative to the amount of animal weight gained. A lower FCR generally indicates better feed efficiency.

How can farmers improve feed efficiency?

Producers can focus on balanced nutrition, appropriate feed formulation, bird health, genetics, feeder management, water availability, barn environment and reducing feed waste.

Does more protein always mean better chicken feed?

No. Protein percentage alone doesn't determine whether a poultry ration is appropriate. Birds require specific amino acids and other nutrients in balanced proportions.

Do pellets improve feed efficiency?

Pellets can provide a more uniform ration and may reduce ingredient sorting compared with mash. The appropriate feed form depends on bird age, production system and feeding program.

How has Canadian chicken feed efficiency improved?

Chicken Farmers of Canada's 2025 LCA reported a 6% reduction in feed conversion ratio from 2016 to 2023.