Swine Feed Budgeting: Estimating Feed Costs per Pig

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-08-14

Key Takeaways

• Feed constitutes the largest variable cost in swine production, typically ranging from 60% to 70% of total expenses from weaning to market weight.
• A modern grow-finish pig typically consumes 700-800 pounds of feed to reach a market weight of 280 pounds, with a feed conversion ratio (FCR) between 2.6 and 3.2 pounds of feed per pound of gain.
• Feed cost per pig can fluctuate significantly, generally between $80 and $160, influenced by grain and protein prices, as well as the efficiency of feed conversion.
• Feed budgets require regular updates, particularly when corn or soybean meal prices deviate by more than 10%, to accurately reflect current market conditions.
• Monitoring feed intake daily and tracking actual feed usage weekly by pen or barn is crucial for early detection of potential health issues, such as a sudden drop in intake signaling disease, which warrants immediate veterinary consultation.

Feed is the single largest variable cost in swine production, typically consuming 60 to 70 percent of the total cost of raising a pig from weaning to market weight. For a farmer who is planning a farrow-to-finish operation, a feeder pig enterprise, or a custom grow-out arrangement, knowing how to estimate swine feed cost per pig before the animals arrive is the difference between a planned profit and an unexpected loss.

This guide explains how to build a practical feed budget for pigs at every stage of production. You will learn how to calculate daily feed intake, how to use feed conversion ratios to project total feed needed, how to price rations accurately, and how to track actual feed use against your budget. The article is written for independent producers, farm managers, and agricultural students who want a clear, numbers-based method for planning hog feed costs without relying on guesswork.

At a Glance

• Feed represents 60 to 70 percent of total pork production costs on most farms.
• A typical pig eats 700 to 800 pounds of feed from weaning to a market weight of 280 pounds.
• The swine feed conversion ratio (FCR) for most modern grow-finish pigs is between 2.6 and 3.2 pounds of feed per pound of gain.
• Feed cost per pig can range from $80 to $160 depending on grain prices, protein prices, and feed efficiency.
• Fixed feed budgets should be updated whenever corn or soybean meal prices change by more than 10 percent.
• Track feed usage by pen or barn on a weekly basis to catch conversion problems early.
• A sudden drop in feed intake can be an early sign of disease and warrants a call to your veterinarian.

Understanding the Components of Swine Feed Cost per Pig

Before you can budget feed accurately, you need to understand what makes up the cost. The swine feed cost per pig is not a single number. It is the product of three variables: the amount of feed the pig eats, the price per ton of that feed, and the efficiency with which the pig converts feed into body weight. Each of these components can vary widely based on your management system, your genetics, and your local grain market.

Feed Intake by Stage of Production

Pigs do not eat at a constant rate. A newly weaned pig at 12 to 15 pounds will consume only about 1 to 1.5 pounds of feed per day. The same pig at 250 pounds will eat 6 to 7 pounds per day. When you build a feed budget, you must account for these changing intake levels rather than using a single average daily feed figure.

The table below shows typical daily feed intake ranges for pigs at different body weights. Use these numbers as planning estimates, not as guarantees. Your actual intake will vary with genetics, environmental temperature, feeder design, and ration formulation.

For a pig going from 12 pounds to 280 pounds, the total feed consumed will typically fall between 700 and 800 pounds. A pig that is marketed at a lighter weight of 250 pounds will consume roughly 600 to 650 pounds of feed. Heavier market weights require disproportionately more feed because the pig becomes less efficient as it grows.

Feed Conversion Ratio and Its Role in Budgeting

The feed conversion ratio, often called FCR or feed efficiency, is the pounds of feed required to produce one pound of live weight gain. A pig with an FCR of 2.8 eats 2.8 pounds of feed for each pound it gains. Lower FCR numbers mean better efficiency.

Modern commercial pig genetics typically achieve FCR values between 2.6 and 3.0 in the grow-finish phase when fed high-quality rations under good conditions. Farrow-to-finish operations that include the breeding herd and the nursery phase will see higher overall FCR values, often 3.2 to 3.8, because sows and young pigs are less efficient converters of feed to usable meat.

To estimate total feed needed for a group of pigs, use this formula:

Total Feed Needed = (Target Market Weight - Starting Weight) x FCR

For example, if you are growing pigs from 50 pounds to 280 pounds with an expected FCR of 2.9, the calculation is:

(280 - 50) x 2.9 = 667 pounds of feed per pig

This method gives you a planning number that accounts for the total gain you expect to produce. It is more accurate than adding up daily intake estimates because it directly ties feed use to the weight gain you are trying to achieve.

Feed Price per Ton

The price of feed is the second major variable in your budget. Most swine rations are built around corn and soybean meal, with vitamin and mineral premixes, amino acids, and other additives making up the remainder. The price of these ingredients fluctuates with commodity markets, and local prices can differ significantly from national averages.

A typical grow-finish ration might contain:

• 70 to 80 percent corn
• 15 to 22 percent soybean meal
• 3 to 5 percent vitamin and mineral premix
• 0.5 to 1.5 percent synthetic amino acids and other additives

When corn is priced at $4.00 per bushel and soybean meal at $350 per ton, a complete grow-finish ration will cost roughly $180 to $220 per ton. When corn rises to $6.00 per bushel and soybean meal to $450 per ton, the same ration can cost $260 to $300 per ton. These swings in ingredient prices are why your feed budget must be recalculated regularly rather than set once per year.

How to Build a Swine Feed Budget Step by Step

Building a reliable feed budget requires a systematic approach. Work through these steps in order, and you will have a defensible estimate of your swine feed cost per pig that you can use for loan applications, cash flow planning, or enterprise comparison.

Step 1: Define Your Production System and Starting Point

Your budget starts with knowing exactly what you are producing. A farrow-to-finish operation that maintains a sow herd has different feed costs than a feeder pig operation that buys 50-pound pigs and grows them to market weight. The breeding herd feed cost must be spread across the pigs sold from each litter, which adds a meaningful amount to the per-pig cost.

Define these parameters before you do any math:

• Starting weight of the pigs
• Target market weight
• Number of pigs you plan to raise
• Expected mortality rate during the grow-out period
• Whether you are including sow and boar feed in the budget

For a feeder pig operation, you only need to budget the feed consumed from purchase weight to market weight. For a farrow-to-finish operation, you must also account for the feed eaten by the sow during gestation and lactation, plus the small amount eaten by the boar if you keep one.

Step 2: Estimate Total Gain and Feed Required

Use the FCR method to estimate total feed per pig. Multiply the expected weight gain by your expected FCR. Be honest with yourself about the FCR you can achieve. If you are buying mixed genetics from a sale barn, expect an FCR of 3.2 to 3.5 rather than the 2.7 that a top-tier commercial herd might achieve with high-health-status pigs and precision feeding.

Write down your calculation:

Target Market Weight = 280 lb Starting Weight = 50 lb Total Gain = 230 lb Expected FCR = 3.0 Total Feed per Pig = 230 x 3.0 = 690 lb

Add a 2 to 5 percent buffer for feed wastage, spilled feed, and slightly slower-growing pigs. A 3 percent buffer on 690 pounds adds about 21 pounds per pig, bringing your planning figure to 711 pounds.

Step 3: Account for the Breeding Herd

If you maintain a sow herd, the breeding herd feed cost must be included in your per-pig budget. A mature sow will eat 4 to 6 pounds of feed per day during gestation and 12 to 15 pounds per day during lactation. Over a full reproductive cycle of about 145 days, a sow will consume roughly 900 to 1,100 pounds of feed.

Assume a sow produces 10 to 12 pigs weaned per litter and has about 2.2 to 2.4 litters per year. The sow feed cost per pig weaned is calculated by dividing the sow's annual feed consumption by the number of pigs weaned per year.

Example calculation:

Sow Annual Feed = 1,000 lb Pigs Weaned per Sow per Year = 24 Sow Feed per Pig Weaned = 1,000 / 24 = 41.7 lb

Add this to the grow-finish feed per pig to get a true farrow-to-finish feed requirement. In this example, the total feed per pig would be 711 + 42 = 753 pounds.

Step 4: Determine Your Ration Prices

Now you need to know what your feed will cost per ton. If you buy complete feed from a mill, call your supplier and get a current price quote for the specific rations you plan to feed. If you mix your own feed on farm, price out the individual ingredients using your local grain elevator prices.

For a home-mixed ration, build a simple spreadsheet or use a feed formulation program to calculate the cost per ton. You need to know the price per ton of corn, soybean meal, premix, and any other ingredients, then multiply each ingredient's inclusion rate by its price and add them together.

Example for a simple grow-finish ration:

• Corn at $4.50 per bushel equals about $160 per ton
• Soybean meal at $380 per ton
• Premix at $1,200 per ton

Ration formula:

• 75% corn = 0.75 x $160 = $120
• 20% soybean meal = 0.20 x $380 = $76
• 5% premix = 0.05 x $1,200 = $60
• Total cost per ton = $256

This ration would cost about $256 per ton, or $0.128 per pound of feed.

Step 5: Calculate Feed Cost per Pig

Multiply your total feed per pig by the cost per pound of feed. Using the numbers from the examples above:

Total Feed per Pig = 753 lb Cost per Pound of Feed = $0.128 Feed Cost per Pig = 753 x $0.128 = $96.38

This is your planning estimate for feed cost per pig for a farrow-to-finish system. For a feeder pig operation that starts at 50 pounds and feeds to 280 pounds, the calculation would use only the grow-finish feed amount:

Total Feed per Pig = 711 lb Feed Cost per Pig = 711 x $0.128 = $91.01

Step 6: Add Non-Feed Variable Costs

Feed is not the only cost you will incur. To make a complete budget, add the following variable costs to your feed estimate:

• Pig purchase price for feeder pigs
• Veterinary and medication costs
• Utilities for heating and ventilation
• Bedding if used
• Marketing and transportation costs
• Death loss replacement cost

These non-feed costs typically add $15 to $40 per pig depending on your system and local prices. The total cost of raising a pig, including feed and all variable costs, will usually fall between $110 and $200 per pig.

Step 7: Compare to Expected Revenue

The final step in your budget is comparing your total cost to expected revenue. If you are selling at a fixed market price, multiply the expected market weight by the price per pound to get revenue per pig. Subtract your total cost per pig to estimate profit or loss.

Example:

Market Weight = 280 lb Market Price = $0.65 per lb Revenue per Pig = 280 x $0.65 = $182 Total Cost per Pig = $96 feed + $30 other variable costs = $126 Net Return per Pig = $182 - $126 = $56

This net return must cover your fixed costs such as building depreciation, interest, and labor before you can call it profit. If the market price drops to $0.50 per pound, revenue falls to $140 and your net return drops to $14 per pig, which may not cover your fixed costs.

Common Mistakes in Swine Feed Budgeting

Many producers make the same errors when building feed budgets. Knowing these pitfalls can help you avoid them in your own planning.

Using a Single FCR for All Pigs

Feed conversion varies with genetics, health status, and management. A single FCR number applied across all production phases will misstate your costs. Nursery pigs have FCR values of 1.2 to 1.5, grower pigs around 2.2 to 2.6, and finisher pigs 3.0 to 3.5. Using an average FCR across all phases can understate feed use for the finisher phase, which is the longest and most feed-intensive part of the grow-out.

Ignoring Feed Wastage

Feeder design and adjustment have a large effect on how much feed actually reaches the pig. Poorly adjusted feeders can waste 5 to 10 percent of the feed you purchase. This wastage is a direct cost that never produces weight gain. Budget for a realistic wastage rate and check your feeders regularly to keep it low.

Forgetting the Sow Herd

Farrow-to-finish producers who budget only the grow-finish feed will consistently understate their true feed cost per pig. The sow herd consumes a significant amount of feed that must be allocated to the pigs it produces. Include gestation and lactation feed in your per-pig calculation.

Basing the Budget on Old Ingredient Prices

Feed ingredient prices move quickly. A budget built on last year's corn price will be wrong this year. Update your budget whenever corn or soybean meal prices change by more than 10 percent from your planning price. This is especially important when you are using the budget for loan applications or contract negotiations.

Not Adjusting for Seasonal Feed Intake

Pigs eat less in hot weather and more in cold weather. A pig housed in an open-front building during a northern winter may eat 10 to 15 percent more feed than the same pig housed in a temperature-controlled barn. If your facilities are not climate controlled, adjust your feed intake estimates by season.

Decision Thresholds for Feed Budget Adjustments

Your feed budget is not a static document. It should trigger management decisions when certain thresholds are crossed. Use these guidelines to know when to revisit your assumptions.

Feed Price Change Threshold

When the price of your complete ration changes by more than 10 percent from your budgeted price, recalculate your entire feed budget. A ration that was $256 per ton and rises to $282 per ton has crossed this threshold. At that point, your feed cost per pig increases by roughly $9 to $10 per pig, which may change your marketing decisions.

FCR Deviation Threshold

Track the actual feed conversion of each group of pigs. If the actual FCR at the end of the grow-out is more than 10 percent worse than your budgeted FCR, investigate the cause. An FCR of 3.3 when you budgeted 3.0 means you are using about 10 percent more feed than planned. This could be caused by health problems, poor feed quality, or genetics that do not perform as expected.

Market Price Threshold

The relationship between feed cost and market price determines your break-even weight. If feed prices rise or hog prices fall, the optimal market weight may decrease. A simple rule is to calculate your break-even cost per pound of gain. If the market price falls below your cost per pound of gain, you are losing money on every additional day you keep the pigs.

Cost per pound of gain is calculated as:

Feed Cost per Pound of Gain = Feed Cost per Ton / 2,000 x FCR

With feed at $256 per ton and an FCR of 3.0, the cost per pound of gain is $0.384. If the market price is $0.65 per pound, you have a $0.266 margin per pound of gain to cover other costs and profit. If the market price drops below $0.384, you should consider marketing pigs at a lighter weight to stop the losses.

Monitoring and Recordkeeping for Feed Costs

A feed budget is only useful if you compare it to actual results. Establish a simple recordkeeping system that tracks feed use and pig performance for every group you raise.

Track Feed by Group or Pen

Weigh or measure all feed delivered to each pen or barn. Record the date, the amount of feed, and the number of pigs in the group. This allows you to calculate actual feed per pig at any point during the grow-out.

Weigh Pigs Regularly

You cannot calculate an accurate FCR without knowing what your pigs weigh. Weigh a sample of pigs at the start of each phase and again at the end. A simple way is to weigh 10 percent of the group and use the average as your group weight estimate. More accurate results come from weighing the entire group, but this is not always practical.

Calculate Actual FCR at Marketing

When a group goes to market, calculate the actual FCR using this formula:

Actual FCR = Total Feed Used / Total Weight Gain

Total weight gain is the difference between the total weight of pigs at market and the total weight of pigs at the start of the grow-out period. Compare this actual FCR to your budgeted FCR and note the difference.

Keep a Feed Price Log

Record the price you pay for each load of feed or each batch of ingredients. This creates a price history that helps you spot trends and make better purchasing decisions. If you have storage capacity, you may be able to buy ingredients when prices are seasonally low.

Review Your Budget Monthly

Set a recurring calendar reminder to review your feed budget on the first of each month. Update ingredient prices, check your feed usage records, and adjust your forward projections. A monthly review takes 30 minutes and can save you thousands of dollars by catching problems early.

When to Call a Veterinarian or Extension Agent

Feed budgeting is a management task, but changes in feed intake or conversion can signal health problems that require professional attention. Contact your veterinarian if you observe any of the following:

Sudden Drop in Feed Intake

If a group of pigs that has been eating normally suddenly reduces feed intake by 20 percent or more over a 24 to 48 hour period, this can be an early sign of disease. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, influenza, and other viral infections often cause a dramatic reduction in feed consumption before other clinical signs appear.

Feed Conversion Worsens Without a Change in Ration

If your actual FCR is significantly worse than expected and you have ruled out feeder adjustment problems and feed quality issues, a subclinical disease may be the cause. Pigs that are fighting off infection use energy for their immune response rather than for growth. Your veterinarian can help you investigate the cause.

Unusual Number of Pigs Not Eating

A few pigs that are off feed is normal in any group. If you see more than 5 percent of the pigs in a pen refusing to eat, or if the problem spreads across multiple pens, call your veterinarian. This pattern suggests a group-level problem rather than an individual pig issue.

Feed Quality Problems

If feed arrives with an unusual odor, visible mold, or signs of insect infestation, stop feeding it immediately and contact your feed supplier and your veterinarian. Mycotoxins in moldy feed can cause reduced intake, poor conversion, and reproductive problems in breeding stock.

When to Contact an Extension Agent

Your local extension agent can help with feed budgeting calculations, ration formulation, and interpreting market price data. Contact them when you are building your first feed budget, when you are considering a major change to your production system, or when you want help comparing the economics of different feeding strategies.

Extension agents can also provide regional data on typical feed conversion ratios and feed costs for farms similar to yours. This information is valuable for checking whether your own numbers are in a reasonable range.

Advanced Considerations for Feed Budgeting

Once you have mastered the basic feed budget, you can refine your estimates with more advanced considerations.

Split-Sex Feeding

Barrows and gilts have different growth patterns and feed efficiencies. Barrows typically eat more and gain faster but have poorer feed conversion than gilts. If you sort pigs by sex and feed them separately, you can tailor rations to each group. This practice can improve overall feed efficiency by 2 to 4 percent.

Phase Feeding

Rather than feeding one ration from 50 to 280 pounds, phase feeding uses two or three different rations that change as the pig grows. Grower rations have higher protein levels to support muscle development. Finisher rations have lower protein and higher energy to support fat deposition. Phase feeding matches the ration to the pig's changing nutritional needs and can reduce feed cost per pound of gain by 3 to 5 percent.

Diet Formulation Based on Net Energy

Net energy systems account for the energy the pig actually uses for maintenance and growth, rather than just the gross energy in the feed. Formulating rations on a net energy basis can improve feed efficiency and reduce feed cost per pig. This approach requires access to feed formulation software and current ingredient nutrient values.

Alternative Feed Ingredients

Depending on your region, alternative ingredients such as distillers dried grains with solubles, wheat middlings, bakery meal, or canola meal may be available at prices that reduce feed cost. These ingredients can replace a portion of the corn and soybean meal in the ration. Work with a nutritionist or extension specialist to evaluate whether alternative ingredients make economic sense for your operation.

Contract Feeding Arrangements

Some producers raise pigs under contract for a larger company. In these arrangements, the company typically owns the pigs and provides the feed, while the grower provides the facilities and labor. The grower is paid a fee per pig or per pound of gain. Understanding feed costs is still important in contract feeding because your payment may be tied to feed conversion performance. A grower who achieves better than average feed conversion may earn bonuses under some contracts.

Building a Feed Budget Spreadsheet

A simple spreadsheet can make your feed budgeting faster and more accurate. Set up columns for each production phase with the following inputs:

• Number of pigs
• Starting weight
• End weight
• Days in phase
• Daily feed intake
• Total feed for phase
• Feed cost per ton
• Feed cost per pig for phase

Use formulas to calculate total feed and total cost automatically. This allows you to test different scenarios quickly. Change the market weight, the FCR, or the feed price, and the spreadsheet recalculates your cost per pig instantly.

You can also add a sensitivity analysis section that shows how feed cost per pig changes with different combinations of feed price and FCR. A table with feed prices ranging from $200 to $350 per ton and FCR values from 2.6 to 3.4 will show you the range of possible outcomes for your feed budget.

Seasonal Considerations in Feed Budgeting

Feed costs and pig performance vary by season, and your budget should account for these patterns.

Winter Feed Costs

Pigs housed in facilities without supplemental heat will eat more in cold weather because they use energy to stay warm. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit below the pig's lower critical temperature, feed intake increases by roughly 2 to 3 percent. A pig housed at 30 degrees Fahrenheit when its lower critical temperature is 60 degrees may eat 6 to 9 percent more feed than the same pig housed at 60 degrees.

Summer Feed Intake

Hot weather depresses feed intake. Pigs eat less when temperatures exceed their upper critical temperature, which is around 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for grow-finish pigs depending on weight. Reduced intake means slower growth, which extends the time to market and can increase total feed cost per pig because maintenance costs are spread over more days.

Seasonal Ingredient Prices

Corn and soybean meal prices often follow seasonal patterns. Corn prices tend to be lowest at harvest and rise through the storage season. Soybean meal prices can spike during periods of strong demand or supply disruptions. If you have on-farm storage, buying ingredients when prices are seasonally low can reduce your feed cost per pig.

Comparing Feed Costs Across Production Systems

The swine feed cost per pig varies by production system, and understanding these differences helps you choose the system that fits your resources and goals.

Farrow-to-Finish

This system maintains a sow herd and raises pigs from birth to market weight. The feed cost per pig includes sow and boar feed allocated across the pigs produced. This system has the highest total feed cost per pig because of the breeding herd overhead, but it also gives you the most control over genetics, health, and management.

Feeder Pig Finishing

This system buys weaned or feeder pigs and grows them to market weight. The feed cost per pig is lower because you do not carry the breeding herd, but you must purchase the pigs. The combined cost of pig purchase plus feed can be higher or lower than farrow-to-finish depending on pig prices and feed efficiency.

Wean-to-Finish

This system places pigs immediately after weaning and keeps them in the same barn until market weight. It avoids the stress of moving pigs from a nursery to a grow-finish facility. Feed conversion is often better because pigs experience less stress and fewer disease challenges. Feed cost per pig can be 2 to 5 percent lower than a traditional two-site system.

Contract Grower

In this system, you provide facilities and labor while the integrator provides pigs, feed, and veterinary care. Your income comes from a contract payment rather than from the sale of the pigs. Feed costs are not your direct responsibility, but your payment may depend on achieving target feed conversion ratios.

Financing and Cash Flow Planning for Feed Costs

Feed is a significant cash expense that must be planned for in your farm's cash flow. A group of 500 pigs with a feed cost of $95 per pig requires $47,500 in feed purchases over the grow-out period. This money is spent over 4 to 5 months, but the revenue from selling the pigs arrives only at the end.

Plan your cash flow by estimating feed purchases by month. A typical grow-out will have lower feed costs in the first month and higher costs in the later months as pigs eat more. Lenders and input suppliers will want to see this cash flow projection before extending credit.

If you are using operating credit to finance feed purchases, calculate the interest cost and include it in your total cost per pig. At a 7 percent annual interest rate, financing $95 of feed for 4 months adds about $2.20 to the cost per pig.

Using Feed Budgets for Enterprise Analysis

Feed budgets are not just for planning. They are also the foundation for comparing the profitability of different enterprises on your farm.

To compare a feeder pig enterprise with a farrow-to-finish enterprise, calculate the feed cost per pig for each system and add the non-feed costs. The system with the higher net return per pig, after accounting for all costs and the value of your labor, is the more profitable choice for your situation.

You can also use feed budgets to evaluate the economics of different market weights. Calculate the feed cost per pig at 250, 270, 290, and 310 pounds. The marginal cost of the additional gain is the feed cost per additional pound. If the market price exceeds this marginal cost, heavier market weights are profitable. If not, market at a lighter weight.

Feed Budgeting for Breeding Herd Replacement

If you raise your own replacement gilts, you must account for the feed they consume before they enter the breeding herd. A replacement gilt is typically selected at around 200 to 250 pounds and then conditioned over several months before her first breeding. During this conditioning period, she may consume 5 to 6 pounds of feed per day.

The feed cost for replacement gilts should be spread across the litters they produce. A sow that produces 6 litters over her productive life will spread her replacement feed cost across those litters. If a replacement gilt costs $300 in feed before her first farrowing and produces 60 pigs over her lifetime, the replacement feed cost is $5 per pig.

Environmental and Facility Factors Affecting Feed Cost

Your facilities have a direct effect on feed efficiency and thus on feed cost per pig.

Floor Space

Pigs need adequate floor space to reach their growth potential. Overcrowding reduces feed intake and increases stress, which worsens feed conversion. Provide at least 8 square feet per pig in the finisher phase for pigs up to 280 pounds. Pigs housed at less than this space allowance will show reduced gain and poorer feed efficiency.

Feeder Space and Adjustment

Pigs need adequate feeder space to eat without competition. A single-space feeder can handle 4 to 5 pigs. A multi-space feeder should provide one eating space for every 4 pigs. Adjust feeder openings so that feed flows freely but does not accumulate in the pan. A properly adjusted feeder can reduce feed wastage by 3 to 5 percent.

Water Supply

Pigs need constant access to clean, fresh water. Inadequate water intake reduces feed intake and impairs digestion. Provide at least one nipple drinker for every 10 to 15 pigs, and check drinker flow rates regularly. A drinker that delivers less than 1 cup per minute will limit water intake and hurt feed conversion.

Ventilation and Temperature Control

Poor ventilation leads to ammonia buildup, respiratory problems, and reduced feed intake. Maintain ammonia levels below 25 parts per million. Keep pigs in their thermoneutral zone to minimize the energy they spend on temperature regulation. For grow-finish pigs, this zone is roughly 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit depending on weight.

Feed Quality and Its Effect on Feed Cost

The quality of your feed ingredients directly affects the feed conversion you can achieve. Poor quality feed is not a bargain even if the price per ton is lower.

Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins produced by molds can reduce feed intake, impair immune function, and damage the liver and other organs. Common mycotoxins in swine feed include aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin), and zearalenone. Test suspect grain before feeding, especially in years with wet harvest conditions.

Particle Size

Grinding corn to the proper particle size improves digestibility and feed conversion. Corn ground to 600 to 800 microns is generally recommended for grow-finish pigs. Finer grinding improves digestibility but can increase the risk of stomach ulcers. Coarser grinding reduces feed efficiency.

Freshness

Feed that sits in storage for extended periods can lose vitamin potency and develop rancidity in the fat component. Store feed in a cool, dry place and use it within 2 to 3 weeks of mixing. Do not buy more feed than you can use before it loses quality.

Recordkeeping Forms for Feed Budgeting

Simple paper forms or digital spreadsheets can help you track the data you need for accurate feed budgeting.

Feed Delivery Log

Record every load of feed or ingredient delivered to your farm. Include the date, the supplier, the product, the quantity, and the price. This log becomes your source for calculating actual feed costs.

Pen Feed Usage Record

For each pen or barn, record the amount of feed delivered and the date. At the end of the grow-out, total the feed used and compare it to your budget. This record also helps you identify pens or facilities with feed wastage problems.

Weigh Sheet

Record the weights of pigs at the start of each phase and at marketing. Include the date, the number of pigs weighed, and the total weight. Divide total weight by number of pigs to get the average weight.

Group Closeout Summary

At the end of each group, complete a one-page summary that shows:

• Number of pigs started and finished
• Mortality rate
• Total feed used
• Total weight gain
• Actual FCR
• Actual feed cost per pig
• Comparison to budget

This closeout summary is your most valuable record for improving future feed budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much feed does a pig eat from weaning to market?

A pig weaned at 12 to 15 pounds and marketed at 280 pounds will eat roughly 700 to 800 pounds of feed. The exact amount depends on genetics, feed quality, health status, and facility conditions. Pigs marketed at lighter weights eat proportionally less feed.

What is a good feed conversion ratio for pigs?

A good FCR for grow-finish pigs is between 2.6 and 3.0 pounds of feed per pound of gain. Pigs with high health status and good genetics can achieve FCR values below 2.7. Farrow-to-finish operations that include the sow herd will have higher overall FCR values, typically 3.2 to 3.8.

How do I calculate feed cost per pig?

Multiply the total pounds of feed the pig will eat by the cost per pound of feed. For example, a pig that eats 750 pounds of feed that costs $0.13 per pound has a feed cost of $97.50. Add a buffer for feed wastage and adjust for sow herd feed if you run a farrow-to-finish operation.

What is the average cost of raising a pig?

The total cost of raising a pig includes feed, pig purchase or breeding herd costs, veterinary care, utilities, labor, and facility costs. Feed is the largest component at 60 to 70 percent of variable costs. Total cost per pig typically ranges from $110 to $200 depending on input prices and management efficiency.

How often should I update my feed budget?

Update your feed budget whenever the price of your complete ration changes by more than 10 percent from your planning price. At a minimum, review your budget monthly and adjust for current ingredient prices. A monthly review also helps you catch feed usage problems early.

Can I reduce feed cost per pig by feeding a cheaper ration?

Sometimes, but not always. A cheaper ration that reduces feed conversion will increase the total feed needed per pig, which can offset the lower price per ton. Evaluate any ration change on the basis of cost per pound of gain, not just cost per ton of feed. A nutritionist can help you formulate a ration that is both economical and effective.

How does market weight affect feed cost per pig?

Heavier market weights increase feed cost per pig because the pig becomes less efficient as it grows. The marginal feed cost per additional pound of gain increases at heavier weights. Compare the marginal cost of additional gain to the market price to determine the optimal marketing weight for your situation.

What should I do if my actual feed conversion is worse than my budget?

Investigate the cause before adjusting your budget. Check feeder adjustment for wastage, verify feed quality, review your health protocols, and confirm that your weight records are accurate. If the problem persists, work with your veterinarian and extension agent to identify the cause and correct it.

Related Farming Guides

This section will be populated with links to related farming guides covering swine production, feed management, and farm financial planning. Check back for updated content on related topics.

Related Clinical & Scientific Guides

• Animal Welfare Audits: Building a Useful Farm Program
• Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Dairy: Mixing and Feeding Management
• Feed Additives for Livestock: Probiotics, Enzymes, and More

References

• USDA Farm Management: https://www.farmers.gov/
• FAO Farm Management: https://www.fao.org/farmer-field-schools/en/
• FAO Animal Production and Health: https://www.fao.org/animal-production/en/
• WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health): https://www.woah.org/en/home/

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis, treatment, public-health guidance, or regulatory reporting.