Researchers tested whether young pigs really need expensive, specialty feed ingredients during their first weeks after weaning. They compared three different feeding budgets—high, medium, and low cost—across nearly 2,000 pigs in two separate experiments. Surprisingly, pigs on the cheaper feeding plans grew just as well as those on expensive plans, but the farms saved significant money. This suggests that pig farmers can reduce costs by using simpler, less expensive ingredients early on without hurting how fast the pigs grow or how healthy they are.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether young pigs need expensive specialty feed ingredients (like milk products and special proteins) or if cheaper, simpler feed works just as well
- Who participated: Two groups of pigs: 630 pigs in the first experiment and 1,170 pigs in the second experiment, all tested from the time they were weaned (separated from their mothers) until they were about 6 weeks old
- Key finding: Pigs fed cheaper, simpler diets grew at the same rate as pigs fed expensive specialty diets. The low-cost feeding program saved money without any negative effects on pig growth or health.
- What it means for you: If you work in pig farming, this research suggests you can reduce feed costs significantly by using simpler ingredients early in a pig’s life. However, this applies specifically to commercial pig farming operations and may not apply to all farm conditions or pig breeds.
The Research Details
The researchers conducted two separate experiments to test their ideas. In the first experiment, they divided 630 young pigs into different groups based on their starting weight and assigned each group to one of three feeding budgets: high-cost, medium-cost, or low-cost. The pigs ate their assigned budget diet for the first two phases, then all pigs switched to the same basic diet for the final phase.
In the second experiment, they repeated the study with 1,170 pigs in a commercial farm setting to confirm their first results. This time, they used larger groups of pigs per pen (26 pigs instead of 5) and tracked them for a longer period (63 days instead of 42 days). Both experiments used the same three feeding budgets but changed the ingredients—the expensive diets included milk products and specialty proteins, while the cheaper diets used more basic ingredients like soybean meal.
The researchers made sure all diets provided the same amount of amino acids (building blocks for muscles) so the only real difference was the type and cost of ingredients used.
This research matters because pig farming is a major business, and feed costs are one of the biggest expenses for farmers. If farmers can save money without hurting pig growth, that’s important for their business and could affect food prices. The researchers did two experiments—one in a controlled setting and one on a real farm—to make sure their results were reliable and would work in real-world conditions.
This study has good reliability because it tested nearly 1,800 pigs across two separate experiments. The second experiment was conducted at a commercial farm, which means the results are more likely to work in real farming situations. The researchers used proper scientific methods like random assignment of pigs to different groups and blocked designs to account for differences. However, the study only looked at growth and economics, not other factors like pig health or meat quality that farmers might care about.
What the Results Show
The most important finding was that pigs fed the low-budget program (the cheapest option) grew just as well as pigs fed the high-budget program (the most expensive option). In the first experiment with 630 pigs, there were no differences in how fast the pigs grew or how much feed they ate between any of the budget groups. In the second, larger experiment with 1,170 pigs, pigs on the high-budget program grew slightly faster early on, but by the end of the study, all groups had caught up and there were no meaningful differences in final weight.
The economic results were clear: using the low-budget program saved money compared to the high-budget program in both experiments. The savings came from using cheaper ingredients like regular soybean meal instead of expensive specialty proteins and milk products. Since the pigs grew the same amount regardless of budget, the low-cost approach was more efficient—farmers got the same results for less money.
Interestingly, a pig’s starting weight (whether it was small, medium, or large when weaned) didn’t change how it responded to the different budgets. Small pigs benefited just as much from the cheaper feed as large pigs did.
The researchers also looked at feed efficiency, which means how much feed a pig needs to gain one pound of weight. There were no significant differences in feed efficiency between the budget groups, meaning pigs on cheap feed converted their food to body weight just as well as pigs on expensive feed. This is important because it confirms that the cheaper ingredients worked just as well nutritionally.
Previous research suggested that young pigs might need specialty ingredients like milk products and special proteins because their digestive systems are still developing. This study challenges that assumption by showing that pigs can grow normally without these expensive ingredients if the diet is properly balanced with the right amino acids. The findings align with a trend in agriculture toward simplifying diets and reducing costs without sacrificing performance.
This study only measured growth performance and economics—it didn’t look at other important factors like pig health, disease resistance, meat quality, or how the pigs behaved. The study also didn’t test what happens if you reduce budgets even more than the low-budget program tested. Additionally, results may vary depending on farm conditions, pig genetics, and management practices that weren’t studied here. The research was conducted in specific facilities with specific pig breeds, so results might differ on other farms.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, pig farmers can confidently reduce spending on specialty feed ingredients during the first two phases of a pig’s life after weaning. The evidence strongly suggests (P ≤ .004, which is very statistically significant) that using simpler, cheaper ingredients produces the same growth results. However, farmers should consult with their nutritionists to ensure diets are properly balanced with correct amino acid levels, as this appears to be the key factor rather than the specific ingredients used.
This research is most relevant to commercial pig farming operations and farmers looking to reduce feed costs. It may be less applicable to small farms, heritage breeds, or specialty pig production. Pig nutritionists and farm managers should pay attention to these findings. This research does not apply to pet pigs or other animals.
The benefits of switching to cheaper feed should be immediate—pigs should grow normally right away without any adjustment period needed. However, farmers should monitor their specific pigs for the first few weeks to ensure the transition works well on their farm, as individual farm conditions can vary.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily feed costs per pig and compare them to growth rates (weight gain per day). Users should record the budget program used and monitor whether pigs reach target weights on schedule, looking for cost savings without delays in growth milestones.
- Farmers can use the app to switch from high-budget to low-budget feed programs and set reminders to monitor pig weights weekly to confirm growth is on track. They can also use the app to calculate and compare total feed costs between different budget programs to see real savings.
- Set up weekly weight checks and feed cost tracking for at least one full production cycle (6-8 weeks). Compare actual results to previous cycles using the high-budget program. Track any changes in pig health or behavior that might indicate the diet change isn’t working well on your specific farm.
This research applies specifically to commercial pig farming operations and should not be interpreted as nutritional advice for pet pigs or other animals. Results may vary based on farm conditions, pig genetics, water quality, management practices, and other factors not studied here. Farmers should consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist before making major changes to their feeding programs to ensure diets remain properly balanced and meet all nutritional requirements. This study measured growth and economics only—it did not evaluate effects on pig health, disease resistance, or meat quality. Individual farm results may differ from research results.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.