Pre-filled with local South Africa market prices. Adjust to match your actual costs.
How does your annual profit change under these conditions?
South Africa has Africa's most commercialised poultry sector, dominated by Astral Foods, Country Bird Holdings, and Rainbow Chicken. Small-scale entry is viable in peri-urban and rural areas. Imported frozen chicken is a persistent competitive threat to local producers.
+ What is FCR and why does it matter?
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) is the kg of feed required to produce 1 kg of live weight gain. An FCR of 2.0 means 2 kg of feed produces 1 kg of growth. Feed accounts for 60–70% of broiler costs — improving FCR from 2.5 to 2.0 can increase profit by 20–30%.
+ Broilers vs Layers — which is more profitable?
Broilers are faster (7-week cycles, revenue every 2 months) but margins are thinner. Layers require 18 weeks of investment before any eggs, but generate daily income for 54 weeks. Use the Compare All mode to see the numbers side-by-side for your specific flock size and country.
+ How is payback period calculated?
Payback period = (Total investment + working capital) ÷ Annual net profit. A 12-month payback means you recover all your startup costs in one year. For broilers with existing housing, payback is often 3–6 months. For layers with new housing, expect 12–24 months.