Publication #RFAA084

Topics: Animal Sciences | Swine Feed and Nutrition

Swine: Feeding¹

Randy Walker²

Feed Substitutions

See Table 2 for suggested feed substitutions.

Mass Conversion Equivalents

See Table 3 for metric system-mass conversion equivalents.

Vitamins

Vitamins which are of concern and which should be added to swine rations include Vitamin A, Vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and Vitamin B12. Sometimes choline, biotin, Vitamin K and Vitamin E are added. Table 4 lists vitamin requirements for starting, growing and finishing swine. Table 5 contains suggested vitamin-trace mineral premix for swine.

Protein

Protein is made up of a combination of amino acids linked together like a chain with links of different size and shape. There are 20 amino acids and 10 of these are essential or must be found in the diet at a particular level for optimum growth or performance. Essential amino acids are: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine. Table 6 lists protein feed recommendations for swine. Lysine is the essential amino acid of most concern since this amino acid is usually in shortest supply in protien of typical swine diets.

Minerals

Minerals are inorganic elements that are essential for many vital metabolic processes which take place in the animal and are important constituents of the skeleton. Table 7 lists mineral element recommendations for swine feed.

Estimated Feed Required Per Hog By Periods

Table 8 lists recommendations for feed required per hog by age periods.

Protein, Feed Intake and Daily Gain Expected Birth to Market

Table 9 lists the protein, feed intake and daily gain expected for growing and finishing pigs. Table 10 lists the protein, feed intake and daily gain expected for gilts, sows and boars. Table 11 lists free choices feeding of protein. Table 12 lists protein supplements for when feeding is free choice.

Mineral Supplements

Table 13 contains an analysis of mineral supplements. Table 14 recommends mixtures for self-feeding minerals.

Recommended Rations

Table 15 recommends rations for the age group known as creep or early weaning (3 weeks) to market age/weight. Table 16 recommends rations for sows and boars.

Tables

Table 1.

Maximum Amount of Different Feeds for Various Rations

	% Complete Ration
Feed	Gestation	Lactation	Starter	Grower	Finisher
Alfalfa meal	90	10	0	5	5
Barley	80	80	25	80	90
Blood meal	3	3	0	3	3
Corn	85	85	70	80	90
Corn and cobmeal	70	10	0	0	0
Cottonseed meal	5	5	0	5	5
Dist. dried sol. corn	5	5	5	5	5
Fish meal	10	10	5	10	5
Fats and oils	0	5	5	5	5
Linseed meal	5	5	5	5	5
Meat and bone meal	10	10	5	5	5
Grain Sorghum	85	85	70	80	90
Molasses	5	5	5	5	5
Oats	70	15	10	30	30
Skim milk, dried	0	0	40	0	0
Soybean meal	20	20	30	25	20
Tankage	10	5	0	5	5
Triticale	85	85	70	80	90
Wheat	85	85	70	80	90
Whey, dried	5	5	20	5*	5*
* Recent research indicates higher levels may be fed without reducing performance.

Table 2.

Feed Substitutions

Feed	Feeding Value Compared to Corn (%)	Corn in Diet it can Replace (%)	Initial Pigs' Weight Best Suited for Feed
Corn, No. 2	100	100	10
Barley	90-100	100	35
Beets, carrots or turnips	12-20	25	125
Bread	75-80	50	50
Fats and oils	175-225	5	10
Hominy Feed	95	50	100
Millet	85-90	50	125
Molasses, cane	70-75	20-40	100
Molasses, citrus	70-75	10-20	100
Oats	80-90	10-35	35
Peanuts*	120-125	100	35
Peas, dried	90-100	50	50
Potato (Irish)	25-28	25-50	125
Potato (Sweet)	20-25	35	100
Rice (rough)	80-85	50	75
Rice bran*	100	35	100
Rye	90	25-50	125
Sorghum (grain)**	90-95	100	10
Triticale	95-100	100	10
Wheat	95	100	10
Wheat bran	75	15-25	125
Wheat shorts	115-120	25	35
* High levels fed produce soft pork. ** Two varieties: bird and nonresistant. Bird resistant may have a lower feed value.

Table 3.

Metric System Mass Conversion Equivalents

Equivalents
1 pound (lb) = 454 grams (g)		1 mcg/lb = 2 mg/ton
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lb = 1000 g		1 mg/lb = 2 g/ton
1 g = 1000 milligrams		1 mg/lb = 2.2 ppm
1 mg = 1000 micrograms (mcg)		1 mcg/g = 1 ppm
1 mg/kg = 1 part/million (ppm)
mg/g to mg/lb multiply by 454		mg/lb to ppm - multiply by 2.2
mcg/g to mg/g divide by 1000		g/lb to % - divide by 4.54
mcg/lb to mg/lb divide by 1000		% to g/lb - multiply by 4.54
mg/lb to mcg/g divide by 0.454
Conversion Table
%	ppm	g/ton	mg/lb
0.0001	1.0	1.9	0.45
0.00011	1.1	1.0	0.5
0.001	10.0	9.1	4.55
0.0011	11.0	10.0	5.0
0.01	100.0	90.8	45.4
0.011	110.0	100.0	50.0
0.1	1000.0	908.0	454.0
0.11	1100.0	1000.0	500.0

Table 4.

Vitamin Requirement of Starting, Growing and Finishing Swine

		Vitamin Amount per Pound of Feed
Vitamins		10-25	25-45	45-130	130-240	Gestation	Lactation
Vitamin A	IU	1,000	800	600	600	1,800	900
Vitamin D	IU	100	90	90	70	90	90
Vitamin E	IU	7.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	10	10
Vitamin K	mg	.2	.2	.2	.2	.2	.2
Riboflavin	mg	1.6	1.4	1.2	1.0	1.7	1.7
Niacin	mg	7.0	6.0	6.0	4.0	5.0	5.0
Pantothenic Acid	mg	5.0	4.0	3.0	3.0	6.0	6.0
Vit.B₁₂	mcg	8.0	7.0	4.0	2.5	7.0	7.0
Choline	mg	225	200	150	150	600	500
Thiamin	mg	.5	.5	.5	.5	.5	.5
Vit. B₆	mg	.7	.7	.5	.5	.5	.5
Biotin	mg	.02	.02	.02	.02	.10	.10
Folacin	mg	.15	.15	.15	.15	.15	.15

Table 5.

Suggested Vitamin Mineral Premix for Swine

	Nutrient	Amount per pound of premix
	Vitamin A	900,000 IU
	Vitamin D	100,000 IU
	Vitamin E	5,000 IU
	Vitamin K (Menadione Equivalent)	660 mgs
	Riboflavin	1,200 mgs
	Pantothenic Acid	4,500 mgs
	Niacin	7,000 mgs
	Choline Chloride	20,000 mgs
	Vitamin B12	5 mgs
	Folic Acid	300 mgs
	Biotin	40 mgs
	Copper	.4 %
	Iodine	.008 %
	Iron	4.0 %
	Manganese	.8 %
	Zinc	4.0 %
	Selenium	.012 %
Vitamin and trace mineral mixes may be purchased separately. This is advisable if a combination vitamin-trace mineral premix is to be stored longer than three months. Vitamins may lose their potency in the presence of trace minerals if stored for a prolonged period. Premix is designed to be used at a rate of 5 lb. per ton of complete feed for sows and baby pigs and 3 lb. per ton of complete feed for growing-finishing swine.

Table 6.

Protein Feeds

	*Relative Value	Percent to Use in:
Feed		Ration	Supplement	Evaluation as Protein Source
Soybean Meal (44%)	100	5-25	50-90	high quality protein
Soybean Meal (48%)	112	5-5	50-90	high quality protein
Peanut Meal (47%)	75	0-5	0-30	low in lysine
Cottonseed Meal (41%)	70	0-5	0-30	gossypol (toxic if not processed properly, low in lysine)
Linseed Meal (35%)	70	0-5	0-30	low in lysine
Meat and Bone Meal** (50%)	75-85	0-5	0-30	low in lysine & tryptophan, high in mineral matter (ash)
Tankage (55%)**	85-90	0-5	0-30	low in tryptophan & isoleucine
Fish Meal (Menhaden) (60%)	100-110	0-10	0-30	high quality protein - expensive
Dry Skim Milk (34%)	100	0-20	0-20	excellent quality protein expensive
Canola Meal (38%)	75	0-10	0-40	relatively high in fiber content
* When fed as recommended ** The value of MeatMeal and Tankage varies in quality University of Florida tests in comparison to soybean meal has shown advantage to soybean meal.

Table 7.

Mineral Element Recommendations for Swine

		Amount or Percent Per Pound of Feed
Mineral Elements		10-25	25-45	45-130	130-240	Gestation	Lactation
Calcium	%	.80	.70	.60	.50	.75	.75
Phosphorus	%	.65	.60	.50	.40	.60	.50
Sodium	%	.10	.10	.10	.10	.15	.20
Chlorine	%	.08	.08	.08	.08	.12	.16
Potassium	%	.28	.26	.23	.17	.20	.20
Magnesium	%	.04	.04	.04	.04	.04	.04
Iron	mg	45.0	40.0	30.0	20.0	40.0	40.0
Zinc	mg	45.0	40.0	30.0	25.0	25.0	25.0
Manganese	mg	2.0	1.5	1.0	1.0	5.0	5.0
Copper	mg	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.5	2.5	2.5
Iodine	mg	.06	.06	.06	.06	.06	.06
Selenium	mg	.14	.12	.07	.05	.07	.07

Table 8.

Estimated Feed Required Per Hog by Periods

Weaning at 3 weeks:
Sow per year:*
Lactation diet	550
Gestation diet	1200
Total	1750
Per pig to market weight:
Creep feed	15
Nursery diet (weaning to 20 lb.)	15
Starter diet (20 to 40 lb.)	40
Grower feed (40 to 125 lb.)	230
Finisher feed (125 to 240 lb.)	400
Total	690

Weaning at 5 weeks:
Sow per year:**
Lactation diet	850
Gestation diet	1050
Total	1900
Per pig to market weight
Creep feed	10
Starter feed (weaning to 40 lb.)	30
Grower feed (40 to 125 lb.)	230
Finisher feed (125 to 240 lb.)	400
Total	670
* Assuming 2.2 litters per sow per year
** Assuming 2.0 litters per sow per year

Table 9.

Protein Content, Feed Intake and Daily Gain Expected for Growing and Finishing Pigs

Pig Size	Protein Content of Ration (%)	Average Daily Feed Intake (lb)	Expected Daily Gain
Creep feed (suckling), 5 to 40 lb	22	.5	0.70
Nursery diet (weaned), 10 to 20 lb.	22	----	0.30
Pig Starter (weaned), 20 to 40 lb	18 - 20	1.00	0.90
Grower, 40 to 125 lb	16	4.25	1.50
Finisher, 125 to 240 lb	13 - 14	7.00	1.80

Table 10.

Protein Content, Feed Intake and Daily Gain Expected for Gilts, Sows and Boars

Pig Age	Protein Content of Ration (%)	Average Daily Feed Intake (lb)	Expected Daily Gain (lb.)
Gestation
Gilts Sows, first 2/3 Sows, last 1/3	14 14 14	3.5 to 6.0 3.0 to 4.5 3.5 to 5.5	0.60 0.35 0.45
Boars*
Young (less than 15 mo.) Mature (over 15 mo.)	14 14	2.0 to 6.0 2.0 to 6.0
* Regulate as needed during breeding season.

Table 11.

Free Choice Feeding of Protein Supplement

Live Weight

Crude Protein, %

Supplement to

Corn Ratio

Daily Protein

Supplement

Pigs in Confinement

40 to 125 lb

125 to 240 lb.

1-3.2

1-5.0

Pigs On Pasture

40 to 125 lb.

125 to 240 lb.

1-3.5

1-7

These figures are based on corn that contains 8.5 to 9.0% protein and supplements that contain 38-42%

protein. If the quantity or quality of pasture is low, use confinement recommendations.

Table 12.

Protein Supplements (When feeding protein supplement free choice)

	Free Choice Feeding
Supplement	Sow Breeder Rations	Pig Up To 125 Lb	Hog 125 Lb And Up	Complete Grower 16%	Mix Diets Finisher 14%
Protein percent	38.5	42	40	44	42
Soybean meal (48%)	1100	1200	1200	1780	1740
Meat and bone scraps,
tankage or fishmeal	340	440	340
Alfalfa meal (dehydrated)	400	200	300
Minerals
Defluorinated Phosphate	80	80	100	200	180
Salt	40	40	50	40	50
Vitamin - Trace Mineral Additions
Suggested Vitamin-Trace
Mineral Swine Premix**	12	15	10	20	15
* Prefer 60% meal if Meat and Bone scraps or Tankage are used. ** Refer to Table 5.

Table 13.

Analysis of Mineral Supplements

	Calcium %	Phosphorus %	Sodium %
Bone Meal	24.0	12.0	0.46
Calcium Carbonate	38.0	--	0.06
Defluorinate Phosphate	32.0	18.0	5.0
Dicalcium Phosphate	22.0	18.5	0.08
Monoammonium Phosphate	0.5	24.0	0.05
MonoPhosphate	16.0	21.0	0.07
Phosphoric Acid	--	23.8	--
Rock Phosphate, Low Fluorine	36.0	14.0	0.6
Sodium Tripolyphosphate	--	25.0	31.0
Tricalcium Phosphate	32.0	18.0	5.0

Table 14.

Self-Feeding Minerals

The following mineral mixture is recommended when mineral is self fed:
(1)	Ground limestone Steamed bonemeal or dicalcium phosphate Trace mineral salt mix	2 parts 2 parts 1 part
(2)	Defluorinated phosphate Trace mineral salt	4 parts 1 part
A three-compartment mineral box can be used and the limestone, bonemeal or dicalcium phosphate and the trace mineral salt can be fed in separate compartments.
When "hogging" peanuts, calcium is the mineral likely to be deficient. Keep ground limestone and trace mineral salt before them in a mineral box.

Table 15.

Suggested Swine Diets (lb/ton)

Ingredient	Starter¹ 20 to 40 lb.	Grower 40 to 125 lb.	Finisher 125 to 240 lb.
Ground corn or grain sorghum	1245	1570	1680
Soybean meal (48%)	500	380	270
Dried whey	200	--	--
Base mix²
Calcium carbonate	13	15	15
Dicalcium phosphate³	30	25	25
Salt	7	7	7
Vitamin-trace mineral premix*	5	3	3
	2000	2000	2000
Total Calculated Analysis:
Crude protein, %	20.0	16.0	13.9
Lysine, %	1.0	.79	.62
Calcium, %	.75	.65	.62
Phosphorus, %	.65	.55	.52
*Suggested vitamin-trace mineral premix given in Table 5. For pigs under 20 lb (i.e., 3 week weaned pigs), a nursery diet is suggested. It is best that this diet be purchased as they are rather complex and only a small amount is required. This diet should contain 20-24% crude protein (1.1 - 1.4% lysine) and include dried skim milk as one of its ingredients. This diet type may also be called baby pig feed or prestarter. A complete mineral-vitamin premix or complete mineral premix and separate vitamin premix may be used instead of the suggested base mix. Follow manufacturer's guidelines. If needed, increase or decrease the grain portion of the ration so that the total would equal 2000 lb. Defluorinated phosphate or mono-dicalcium phosphate, if available, may be substituted for dicalcium phosphate. However, if a substitution is made, the rations need to be reformulated since these products contain different calcium and hos horus levels than does dicalcium phosphate see Table 13

Table 16.

Suggested Sow (and boar) Diets (lb/ton)

Ingredient	Gestation¹	Lactation²
Ground corn or grain sorghum	1625	1585
Soybean meal (48%)	300	350
Base mix³
Dicalcium phosphate⁴	40	30
Calcium carbonate	20	20
Salt	10	10
Vitamin-trace mineral premix*	5	5
	2000	2000
Total Calculated Analysis:
Crude protein, %	14.3	15.4
Lysine, %	.66	.74
Calcium, %	.90	.80
Phosphorus, %	.70	.60
It is suggested that this ration be fed at a level of 3 to 6 lb. per head per day. The exact level to feed during gestation depends on weight, age and condition of the animal and climatic conditions. Sows should gain about 30 to 60 lb and gilts should gain about 70 to 100 lb during gestation. For bred sows and gilts on good quality pasture, 2 to 4 lb per head per day should suffice. For feeding bred sows that are maintained in confinement in individual pens or are tethered, an additional 100 lb of soybean meal and 15 lb of dicalcium phosphate should be added to the gestation ration at the expense of grain since these sows usually receive 1/2 to 1 lb less feed per day. The suggested lactation ration could also be fed during gestation for those who want to use a single gestation-lactation ration. During lactation, the ration should be limit fed during the first few days following farrowing. Increase the daily feed gradually up to full feed or slightly less by 3 to 7 days after farrowing. If constipation in a problem around farrowing time, substitute approximately 20% wheat bran, 40% oats or 10% ground good quality hay or alfalfa meal for grain in the lactation ration starting 3 to 4 days before farrowing and continuing 2 to 5 days following farrowing. Constipation may also be treated by adding 15 to 20 lb potassium chloride or magnesium sulfate per ton of lactation ration. A complete commercial mineral-vitamin premix or a complete mineral premix and separate vitamin premix may be used instead of the suggested base mix. Follow manufacturer's guidelines. If needed, increase or decrease the grain portion of the ration so that the total would equal 2000 lb. Defluorinated phosphate or mono-dicalcium phosphate, if available, may be substituted for dicalcium phosphate. However, if a substitution is made, the rations need to be reformulated since these products contain different calcium and phosphorus levels than does dicalcium phosphate (see Table 13). See Table 5.

Footnotes

This document is RFAA084, one of a series of the Animal Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date December 1992. Revised June 2003. Reviewed by R. Myer, October 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

Extension Swine Specialist, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.

Swine: Feeding1

Feed Substitutions

Mass Conversion Equivalents

Vitamins

Protein

Minerals

Estimated Feed Required Per Hog By Periods

Protein, Feed Intake and Daily Gain Expected Birth to Market

Mineral Supplements

Recommended Rations

Tables

Footnotes

Swine: Feeding¹