Kansas State University: General Nutrition Principles for Swine
Worked examples connect diet cost, feed conversion, live weight gain, and feed cost per pig.
Review the publicationFree planning tool
Swine feed cost calculator
Compare 2 feed programs using your own live weight, feed conversion, and diet cost assumptions. See feed cost per pig, cost per pound of gain, total feed, and the proposed diet price that breaks even with the current program.
Runs in your browser. Inputs are not saved or transmitted.
Comparison
Results update when an input changes.
Live weight gain per pig230 lb
Current feed cost per pig$74.06644 lb feed · $0.3220 per lb gain
Proposed feed cost per pig$73.90621 lb feed · $0.3213 per lb gain
Proposed differenceSave $0.16 per pigEstimated batch savings: $386.40
Break even proposed diet price$238.52 per tonAt the entered proposed feed conversion ratio
Total proposed feed745.20 tonsEstimated proposed batch feed cost: $177,357.60
Method and interpretation
Cost per ton is only half the decision.
A less expensive diet can cost more per pig when more feed is required for each pound of live weight gain. A more expensive diet can cost less per pig when the improvement in feed conversion offsets the additional diet cost. The calculator keeps both variables visible.
The break even result answers a narrow planning question: given the entered proposed feed conversion ratio, what proposed diet price would equal the current estimated feed cost per pig? It does not predict whether that feed conversion will occur.
- Use current delivered diet costs on the same unit basis.
- Use measured feed conversion from comparable groups and periods.
- Review ingredient quality, nutrient delivery, health, environment, feed waste, and production constraints before acting.
- Have a qualified nutritionist review the complete diet and assumptions.
Iowa State University: Feed Energy and Growth Calculator
The Iowa Pork Industry Center documents a calculator using pig weight, diet energy, and estimated feed consumption.
Review the fact sheetPork Information Gateway: Practical Ideas to Address Feed Costs
The guidance cautions that reducing diet cost per ton alone can reduce profitability when feed efficiency or other outcomes change.
Review the guidanceQuestions
How is swine feed cost per pig calculated?
Estimated feed per pig equals live weight gain multiplied by the entered feed to gain ratio. Feed cost per pig equals estimated feed per pig multiplied by diet cost per pound. The calculator converts the entered cost per US ton using 2,000 pounds per ton.
Does a lower diet cost per ton always reduce feed cost per pig?
No. A lower diet price can still produce a higher feed cost per pig if feed conversion becomes less efficient. Compare cost per pound of gain and total feed cost per pig, then review the biological and production assumptions with a qualified nutritionist.
What is the break even proposed diet price?
The break even proposed diet price is the maximum entered cost per ton that would produce the same estimated feed cost per pig as the current program, given the proposed feed conversion ratio and live weight gain.
Does this calculator formulate or approve a swine diet?
No. This calculator compares economic assumptions only. It does not formulate a diet, validate nutrients, predict animal performance, assess ingredient quality, or replace professional review.
Move from the estimate to the complete diet.
DietForge connects least cost formulation, feed conversion assumptions, cost per gain, ingredient constraints, sensitivity analysis, and professional review in 1 shared swine workflow.
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