Feed Tables - Pigs | Natural Resources Institute Finland

On this page you will find the basis for calculating feed values for pigs and feeding recommendations.

The feed table is a list of typical composition and feed value data for commonly used feedingstuffs, i.e. the so-called list of reference feeds.

Feed Tables

How to calculate the feed values for pigs

Official equations for the calculation of feed values have been defined for different animal species.

Compositional data required for calculating the feed values are obtained from feed analysis results, or optionally the reference values presented in Feed Tables can be used. In both cases, the digestibility coefficients from Feed Tables are used.

Basis of feed value calculations

Nutrient requirements for pigs

The energy requirements of swines are presented as megajoules (MJ) net energy (NE) per day, MJ NE/d separately for growing pigs (weight under 150 kg, MJ NEg) and for adult pigs (MJ NEa). Protein requirements are presented as g/MJ NE. Protein requirements are presented as standardised ileal digestible amino acids as a proportion of energy, g/MJ NE, for growing and adult pigs.

The breeding of pigs develops rapidly, and breed used in production has an impact on the real feeding requirements. The possible change in the used breeds and development of breeding would acquire faster update of feeding recommendations. The recommendations shown here are directional at the time of publication.

Table 1. Energy content per kg DM of a normal complete diet.
	MJ NE/kg DM
Weaner diets, under 15 kg	11.5 – 12.0
Weaner diets, 15 – 25 kg	11.3 – 11.8
Finisher diets, 25 – 55 kg	10.8 – 11.3
Finisher diets, over 55 kg	9.8 – 10.8
Gestation diets	8.6 – 10.0
Lactation diets	11.0 – 12.0

Energy requirements of sows

The aim of presenting the energy requirements is to improve the fertility, longevity and welfare of sows by adequate feeding so that great weight changes during the production cycle are avoided. This is achieved by using condition scoring and modifying feeding during gestation on individual or group basis. The condition scoring is conducted on all sows at weaning (for gilts at first insemination). There are 3 condition scores: thin (2), good (3), very good (4) and very fat (5). The condition score of a sow should at weaning 3 – 3.5. This is possible if the sow does not lose more than 10 – 15 kg weight during lactation. Some sows are genetically low-fat and mobilize body reserves during lactation, and this target may not apply to them.

Table 2. Conditioning scoring of sows
	2 Thin	3 – 3.5 Good	4 –5 Fat /very fat
Backfat, mm	over 13	16 – 18	over 19
Tail head	cavity around tail	no cavity around tail	fat around tail
Hips Backbone Ribs	can be palpated with slight pressure and also visible	can be palpated with firm pressure, but cannot be observed visually	cannot be palpated

Feeding pregnant sow according to the condition

Sows will be fed so, that the target, condition score 3 – 3.5 is reached, before the next farrowing. If condition has been lost during lactation the best time to replace it is during the early to middle part of the following pregnancy. The biggest feed amounts are given to animals, which are in loose-house systems and are moving a lot. If the sows are in individual crates, the feed allowance can be increased just after insemination if the sows needs large amounts of muscle and fat after earlier lactation. If the sows are in loose-house system after insemination, the feed allowance can be increased app. one week after insemination. After moving to farrowing pen, 3 – 5 days before farrowing, lactation feed and good quality hay/straw ad libitum and/or laxatives are recommended. If they are not given, feed allowance can be greater, but at maximum 24 MJ NE_a/day.

Table 3. Energy requirements for gestating sows
	MJ NE_a/kg DM
Condition score at insemination	2 thin	3 good	4 – 5 fat – very fat
0 – 85 pregnancy days	30 – 34	24 – 28	23
from pregnancy days 85 until moving to farrowing pen	30 – 34	24 – 28	23
3 – 5 days before farrowing	18 – 24	18 – 24	18 – 24

Feeding of lactating sows

The lactating sow is fed individually according to appetite. We recommend that lactation sows should be fed 3 – 4 times per day. Feed portion will be increase 5 – 10 MJ Nea per day in the first lactation week until the maximum level is reached. If the sow has 10 or more piglets, she is fed ad libitum, at least 82 – 85 MJ NEa/d.

From weaning to new gestation

At least 34 MJ NEa/d of feed is given from weaning to gestation according to sow’s condition and appetite. Part of the feed can be piglet feed. Sows that have lost a lot of weight during lactation, can be fed ad libitum.

Energy requirements of gilts

The energy requirements of gilts are presented for moderate rearing. The gilts are transported to the mating department at the age of approximately 6 months to obtain boar contact, for heat control and mating. In the mating department, the gilts are fed the feed of pregnant sows. If gilts are fed restrictively, flushing is recommended two weeks before insemination. In flushing, the feed allowance is risen to the level of 30.0 MJ NE/day. The feed for lactating sows or piglets is recommended. Flushing should start 1 week after the first heat and gilts are inseminated at the second heat.

Table 4. Energy requirements of gilts
Week	Weight, kg	MJ NE_g/d
1	30	13.6
2	36	15.5
3	42	17.5
4	48	19.4
5	54	21.3
6	60	23.3
7	66	25.2
8	72	26.2
9	78	27.2
10	83	27.2
11	89	27.2
12	95	27.2
13	101	27.2
14	106	27.2
15	112	27.2
16	118	27.2
17	124	27.2
18	130	27.2
19	136	27.2
20	142	27.2
		MJ NEa/d
2 weeks before insemination		30.0

Energy requirements of growing pigs

The energy recommendations of growing pigs start at 25 kg live weight when the pigs are about 10 weeks old. The high/low (table 5) and high/high (table 6) recommendations are the same until 8 to 10 weeks, after which the high/high recommendation continues at a higher level. Live weight in the columns is the estimated weight at the beginning of the week. Estimated weight development is based on a daily gain of 900-970 g and an average feed utilisation of 25-26 MJ per kg of growth throughout the rearing period. For purebred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs, the recommendations for MY crossbred pigs are used.

Table 5. Energy requirements of growing pigs, high/low
Week	Landrace, Yorkshire and crosses				DLY- crosses
	Females		Castrates+ mixed growing		Females		Castrates + mixed growing
	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg
1	12.6	25.0	13.6	25.0	13.6	25.0	13.6	25.0
2	13.6	30.0	14.6	30.0	15.5	30.5	15.5	30.5
3	15.5	36.0	16.5	36.0	17.5	37.0	17.5	37.0
4	17.5	42.0	18.9	42.5	19.4	43.5	19.9	43.5
5	19.4	48.5	21.3	49.5	21.3	50.0	22.3	50.5
6	21.3	55.0	23.8	56.5	23.3	57.0	24.7	58.0
7	23.3	62.0	25.7	63.5	25.2	64.0	27.2	65.5
8	25.2	69.0	27.2	70.5	27.2	71.0	28.6	73.0
9	27.2	76.0	28.1	77.5	28.6	77.5	29.1	80.0
10	28.6	82.5	29.1	84.0	29.1	84.0	29.1	86.5
11	29.1	89.0	29.6	91.0	29.1	90.5	29.1	93.0
12	29.1	95.5	30.1	97.5	29.1	97.0	29.1	99.5
13	29.1	102.0	30.1	104.0	29.1	103.0	29.1	106.0
14	29.1	108.0	30.1	110.5	29.1	109.0	29.1	112.0
15	29.1	114.0	30.1	117.0	29.1	115.0	29.1	118.0

M=Landrace; Y=Yorkshire; D=Duroc

Table 6. Energy requirements for growing pigs, high/high
Week	Landrace, Yorkshire and crosses				DLY-crosses
	Females		Castrates + mixed crosses		Females		Castarates + mixed crosses
	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg	MJ NE_g/d	Live weight, kg
1	12.6	25.0	13.6	25.0	13.6	25.0	13.6	25.0
2	13.6	30.0	14.6	30.0	15.5	30.5	15.5	30.5
3	15.5	36.0	16.5	36.0	17.5	37.0	17.5	37.0
4	17.5	42.0	18.9	42.5	19.4	43.5	19.9	43.5
5	19.4	48.5	21.3	49.5	21.3	50.0	22.3	50.5
6	21.3	55.0	23.8	56.5	23.3	57.0	24.7	58.0
7	23.3	62.0	25.7	63.5	25.2	64.0	27.2	65.5
8	25.2	69.0	27.6	70.5	27.2	71.0	29.1	73.0
9	27.2	76.0	29.1	77.5	28.6	78.0	30.1	80.0
10	28.6	83.0	30.1	84.5	30.1	85.0	30.1	87.0
11	29.6	89.5	30.6	91.5	30.1	92.0	30.1	94.0
12	30.1	96.0	31.0	98.5	30.1	98.5	30.1	101.0
13	30.1	102.5	31.0	105.5	30.1	105.0	30.1	107.5
14	30.1	109.0	31.0	112.5	30.1	111.0	30.1	114.0
15	30.1	115.0	31.0	119.0	30.1	117.0	30.1	120.0

M=Landrace; Y=Yorkshire; D=Duroc

Protein and amino acid requirements of swine

Table 7. Protein and amino acids requirements of piglets and growing pigs
	Piglets		Growing pigs
	under 15 kg	15 – 25 kg	25 – 55 kg	55 – 80 kg	yli 80 kg
Standardised ileal digestible amino acids, g/MJ NE_g
Lysine	1.12 – 1.14	1.10 – 1.12	0.98 – 1.01	0.79 – 0.84	0.69 – 0.74
Methionine + Cystine	0.67 – 0.68	0.66 – 0.67	0.59 – 0.61	0.47 – 0.50	0.41 – 0.44
Threonine	0.69 – 0.71	0.66 – 0.69	0.62 – 0.64	0.51 – 0.55	0.45 – 0.48
Tryptophan	0.21 – 0.22	0.21	0.19	0.15 – 0.16	0.13 – 0.14
Valine	0.75 – 0.76	0.74 – 0.75	0.66 – 0.68	0.53 – 0.56	0.46 – 0.50
% of lysine
Methionine + Cystine	60	60	60	60	60
Threonine	62	62	63	65	65
Tryptophan	19	19	19	19	19
Valine	67	67	67	67	67
Digestible crude protein, g/MJ NE_g	15.5 – 16.5	15.2 – 16.2	14.4 – 15.2	12.3 – 13.5	11.8 – 12.8

Table 8. Protein and amino acid requirements of growing gilts
	25 – 55 kg	55 – 100 kg*	over 100 kg
Standardized ileal digestible amino acids, g/MJ NE_g
Lysine	0.86 – 0.91	0.64 – 0.74	0.54 – 0.64
Methionine + Cystine	0.52 – 0.55	0.38 – 0.44	0.36 – 0.43
Threonine	0.54 – 0.57	0.42 – 0.48	0.41 – 0.48
Tryptophan	0.16 – 0.17	0.12 – 0.14	0.11 – 0.13
Valine	0.58 – 0.61	0.43 – 0.50	0.40 – 0.47
% of lysine
Methionine + Cystine	60	60	67
Threonine	63	65	75
Tryptophan	19	19	21
Valine	67	67	74
Digestible crude protein, g/MJ NE_g	12.7 – 13.9	11.7 – 12.8	11.2 – 12.3

*If gilts are too thin in insemination, in this stage of growing should be used protein requirements of over 100 kg gilts.

Table 9. Protein and amino acid requirements of sows and boars
	Tiineet emakot Karjut	Imettävät emakot*
Ohutsuolisulavat aminohapot, g/MJ NEa
Lysine	0.48 – 0.52	0.64 – 0.70
Methionine + Cystine	0.32 – 0.35	0.38 – 0.42
Threonine	0.36 – 0.39	0.42 – 0.46
Tryptophan	0.10 – 0.11	0.13 – 0.14
Valine	0.36 – 0.38	0.52 – 0.57
% lysiinin määrästä
Methionine + Cystine	67	60
Threonine	75	65
Tryptophan	21	20
Valine	74	81
Digestible crude protein, g/MJ NE_a	11.2 – 12.5	13.5 – 14.4

* Recommendations for lactating sows calculated for average feed intake (gilts 6.3 kg, 2nd litter sows 6.9 kg ja older sows 7.2 kg).

Mineral requirements of swine

Table 10. Mineral requirements of swine.
	Piglets		Growing pigs			Growing replacement gilts	Pregnant sows Boars	Lactating sows
	under 15 kg	15 – 25 kg	25 – 55 kg	55 – 80 kg	80 – 120 kg	25 kg – until insemination	Pregnant sows Boars	Lactating sows
In MJ NE
Calsium. g*	0.88	0.88	0.84	0.76	0.67	0.84	0.77	0.86
Digestible phosphorus. g	0.31	0.31	0.31	0.28	0.22	0.31	0.28	0.34
Salt. g**	0.41	0.41	0.41	0.41	0.41	0.41	0.41	0.55
Magnesium. g	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04
Iron. mg***	13.3	13.3	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5
Copper. mg	0.64	0.64	0.64	0.64	0.64	0.64	0.64	0.64
Zinc.. mg	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.7
Iodine. mg	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02
Selenium. mg	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04

*The ratio of calsium and digestible phosphorus can vary between 2,5 – 3,1.
**The upper level of sodium recommendation is 0,3 g/MJ NE, which means no more than 0,79 g NaCl/MJ NE.
***For piglets, easily soluble iron 10.4 mg/MJ NE.

If phytase enzyme is added to the dist to improve phosporus digestubility, feed calcium concentration should be decreased by 0,05 g/MJ NE For weaned piglets (under 9 kg) recommendation for calcium is 0,73 g/MJ NE.

Permitted maximum levels of trace elements in compound feed:

Selenium: 0,5 mg/kg
Zinc: 150 mg/kg
Copper: until weeks 12 of age 170 mg/kg 17 weeks
other pigs: 25 mg/kg

Link: https://ec.europa.eu/food/food-feed-portal/screen/feed-additives/search

Vitamin requirements of swine

Table 11.Vitamin requirements of swine
	Piglets 9 – 30 kg	Growing pigs over 30 kg	Gilts 30 – 100 kg	Gilts over 100 kg	Pregnant sows Boars	Lactating sows
In MJ NE*
Vitamin A, IU	540	430	430	850	850	850
Vitamin D, IU	54	43	43	85	85	85
Vitamin E mg**	6.7	4.0	4.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Thiamine, B₁, mg	0.21	0.21	0.21	0.21	0.21	0.21
Riboflavine, B₂, mg	0.45	0.22	0.22	0.53	0.53	0.53
Pyridoxine, B₆, mg	0.32	0.32	0.32	0.32	0.32	0.32
Niacine, mg	2.13	2.13	2.13	2.13	2.13	2.13
Pantotenic acid, mg	1.12	1.12	1.12	1.6	1.6	1.6
Biotine, mg	0.02	0.006	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02
Vitamin B₁₂, mg	0.002	0.002	0.002	0.002	0.002	0.002
Folic acid, mg	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.16	0.16	0.16
Vitamin K, mg	0.21	0.21	0.21	0.21	0.21

*The amount added
** For weaned piglets maximum 3 – 4 weeks after weaning recommendation greater (11 mg/MJ NE). Extra Vitamin E: 0.5 mg/% oily fat added.