The biggest expense in pig farming is feed — it accounts for 60–70% of your total cost. For backyard farmers buying commercial feeds by the sack, this can eat up any profit before you even reach market weight.
The good news: a home-mixed ration using locally available ingredients costs roughly 40–50% less than full commercial feeds, and Philippine research shows it produces acceptable growth rates for backyard operations.
"Lisod gyud magpadako ug baboy kung sayop ang pakan-on." (It is difficult to raise pigs if the feed is wrong.)
The key is getting the protein and energy balance right. Here is how.
A Simple Backyard Feed Formula
This formula works for grower pigs (20–60 kg) in Philippine backyard conditions. It uses ingredients available in most town markets and agricultural supply stores:
| Ingredient | Proportion | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Rice bran (D1/darak) | 40% | Energy base, widely available |
| Cracked corn (mais) | 25% | Main energy source |
| Copra meal | 15% | Protein supplement |
| Fish meal (local) | 5% | High-quality protein, amino acids |
| Greens (camote tops, kangkong) | 10% | Vitamins, minerals, fiber |
| Commercial hog concentrate | 5% | Vitamins, minerals, amino acids your mix is missing |
Approximate protein content: 14–15% crude protein — appropriate for growers.
For finishers (60–100 kg), reduce fish meal to 3% and increase corn to 27%. Protein needs drop slightly in this phase.
For starter piglets (just weaned), the protein requirement is higher (18–20%). At this stage, it is usually better to buy commercial starter feed for the first 2–4 weeks, then transition to your home mix. The cost of starter feed is small because piglets eat very little.
Why These Ingredients Work
Rice bran (darak) is the backbone of most backyard feed systems in the Philippines. A study of Philippine backyard swine farmers (IJSRM) found it is the most commonly used ingredient alongside corn. D1 rice bran (first pass) has about 12–13% crude protein and moderate energy.
Warning: Rice bran goes rancid quickly in Philippine heat. Buy only what you will use within 2 weeks. Store in a cool, dry place in sealed containers. Rancid rice bran smells sour and pigs will refuse it.
Copra meal is cheap and available throughout coconut-producing regions — Visayas, Mindanao, Bicol. At 20–22% crude protein, it is the most cost-effective local protein source. Soak it in water for 8–24 hours before mixing to improve digestibility.
Fish meal is expensive per kilo but you use very little. It supplies lysine and methionine — amino acids that rice bran and copra meal are deficient in. Buy from reputable agricultural suppliers, not wet market sweepings (quality varies hugely).
Camote tops (sweet potato leaves) are one of the best free feed ingredients available. At 14–18% crude protein on a dry basis, they are a legitimate protein supplement. Kangkong (water spinach) is similar at 15–20% crude protein dry basis. Both grow abundantly and cost nothing if you have land.
Common Mistakes
- Relying only on kitchen scraps. Scraps are unpredictable in nutrition. They supplement — they do not replace — a balanced ration.
- Storing rice bran too long. After 2 weeks in Philippine heat, it degrades. Buy fresh and frequently.
- No protein source. Corn + rice bran alone gives you energy but not enough protein. Pigs grow slowly and get fat instead of muscular.
- Feeding raw cassava with skin. The skin contains cyanide compounds. Always peel and cook cassava before feeding.
- Sudden feed changes. Switching from commercial to home-mixed overnight causes diarrhea. Transition gradually over 5–7 days.
- Not cooking swill (kitchen waste). Uncooked swill containing meat scraps is a major ASF transmission risk. Always boil kitchen waste thoroughly before feeding.
How Much Does It Cost?
Exact prices fluctuate by region and season, but as a general guide: a home-mixed ration using the formula above costs roughly ₱18–24 per kilogram of mixed feed, compared to ₱28–38 per kilogram for commercial complete feeds.
For a single grower pig eating about 2 kg of feed per day, that is a savings of roughly ₱20–30 per day — which adds up to ₱1,500–2,500 over a 3-month grow-out period.
Use the Feed Cost Calculator to estimate your specific costs based on local prices, or try the Quick Feed Estimate tool for a fast calculation of how much feed your pigs need per day.
Bisaya / Cebuano
Para sa mga mag-uuma
Ang pinakabarato nga paagi sa pag-mix og feed para sa baboy:
- 40% darak (rice bran D1) — base sa feed
- 25% mais (cracked corn) — para sa enerhiya
- 15% copra meal — para sa protina
- 5% fish meal — para sa amino acids
- 10% dahon sa kamote o kangkong — libre nga protina ug bitamina
- 5% commercial concentrate — para sa bitamina ug mineral
Kini nga mix mga 40–50% mas barato kaysa full commercial feed. Pero kinahanglan gyud nga sakto ang mixture — kung kulang og protina, hinay kaayo motubo ang baboy.
Learn More
- Cheapest way to feed pigs in the Philippines — more budget-saving strategies beyond home mixing
- Complete guide to pig feed formulation in the Philippines — detailed formulas by growth stage
- Philippine feed economics: what really drives costs — understanding feed price trends
- Alternative feeding systems — fermented feeds, PECM, and other options
- Feed Cost Calculator — estimate your costs
Sources: IJSRM study on alternative feed ingredient usage by Philippine backyard swine farmers, Agriculture Monthly 2018 organic pig production article, FAO Farmer's Handbook on Pig Production (feed formulation guidelines), ECHOcommunity.org farm-generated feed resources, DOST-PCAARRD feed resources for swine.
