Leena Watts
Grains are an important part of pig diets. Small grains such as barley, oats, rye, triticale, and wheat can be used as alternatives to corn and soybeans in pig feed. They are higher in crude protein and lysine compared to corn, and their use can help reduce the high diet costs pig farmers face. Wheat can replace corn entirely in pig rations, although it is important to balance the diet for lysine and protein. Similarly, barley can be used as a complete replacement for corn but should be combined with a higher energy source like wheat for weaner and lactation rations. Other grains such as oats, rye, and triticale can also be incorporated into pig diets, although typically at lower inclusion levels due to factors such as palatability and potential anti-nutritional factors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of grains used in pig diets | Barley, oats, rye, triticale, wheat, corn, soybeans |
| Nutritional value compared to corn | Higher in crude protein, lysine, and digestible phosphorus; lower in energy content |
| Benefits of small grains | Feed cost reduction, higher crude fiber content, similar performance to corn-based diets |
| Considerations | Palatability, anti-nutritional factors, contamination, enzyme inhibitors, nutrient balance |
| Wheat inclusion rates | Up to 90% for gestating sows, up to 95% for grow-finish rations |
| Barley inclusion rates | 10%-15% for weaner pig rations to reduce diarrhea |
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What You'll Learn
Wheat as a replacement for corn in pig diets
Grains are a useful feed alternative to corn in pig diets. Small grains such as barley, oats, rye, triticale, and wheat can be used in swine feeding programs. In fact, pigs fed well-balanced small grain-based diets can perform as well as those fed corn-based diets. Small grains are lower in fat, higher in fibre, and typically contain less metabolizable energy than corn.
Wheat is a good replacement for corn in pig diets, especially in major wheat-producing areas such as Europe (France) and North America (Canada). Wheat is mostly used as the main energy feed in these areas. The protein content of wheat is higher than that of corn, so using wheat instead of corn can save on the use of protein materials such as soybean meal. The starch and fibre concentration in wheat is similar to corn, but wheat contains less oil and is lower in energy content. This means that the feed efficiency will be worse with wheat unless fat is added to balance the diets for energy. However, wheat is currently more economical than corn.
When switching to wheat, it is important to test ingredients and formulate diets to meet the nutrient demands of pigs. Wheat should not be ground too finely as it becomes sticky, absorbing air humidity and saliva. This can cause problems for very young pigs, and research has shown that very hard pellets can depress feed intake and growth. For young pigs, wheat should be ground coarsely, and only later should the wheat particle size be reduced. Wheat also contains more anti-nutritional factors such as non-starch polysaccharides than corn, which can lead to issues such as diarrhoea. However, this can be mitigated by adding xylanases, bile acids, and other additives to improve digestibility and intestinal health.
Wheat-based diets can also save costs for farmers. Wheat can be used as the sole cereal grain in grow-finish pig diets and pigs fed wheat-based diets can grow as efficiently and with similar meat quality to pigs fed corn-based diets when energy and amino acids are balanced.
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The role of barley in pig diets
Grains are used as feed alternatives to corn and soybeans in pig diets. Small grains such as barley, wheat, oats, rye, and triticale can be used in swine feeding programs. In fact, in many countries, wheat and barley are the main energy sources for swine rations.
Barley is a winter crop that is already being harvested in several parts of the world. It is relatively inexpensive compared to other cereals. Its nutrient profile is similar to corn, making it a versatile feed grain. It is higher in crude protein and lysine than corn, which means that less soybean meal is needed to compensate.
Barley has a higher fiber content than other small grains because its kernels are encased in a hull. This higher fiber content does not negatively affect gains in growing-finishing swine if plump, high-test weight grain is fed. The higher fiber content in barley also means that it has a higher heat increment of feeding, which can help keep an animal warm in cold environments. Therefore, feeding barley during the winter may be advantageous, but it may lead to reduced feed intake in hot summer months.
Barley can be used as a complete replacement for corn in grower-finisher and gestation rations, but it should be combined with a higher energy source grain for weaner and lactation rations. It is recommended to feed high-barley diets to developing gilts, gestating sows, and heavy finishing pigs. However, it is important to ensure that the barley is free of mycotoxins, as these can be harmful to pigs and render the feed worthless.
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Oats as a feed grain for pigs
Oats have been used as a feed grain for pigs for a long time, but many producers are concerned about their high fibre content and low test weight. Oats are highly palatable to all classes and ages of pigs, and they are higher in protein and lysine than corn. Lysine is an essential amino acid that must be present in a pig's diet for it to grow and perform well. Oats are also higher in fat content than other small grains, with a range of 2-12%. They are also rich in vitamin B1, B2, B6, and vitamins A, K, and E.
Oats are typically fed to pigs in two forms: hulled or dehulled. Dehulled oats should be ground to prevent pigs from separating the hulls from the grain. A fine to medium grind is better than a coarse grind. Using dehulled oats improves their feed value and palatability. Oats are best used in gestating sow diets, but they should be limited in other production phases because they fill up the gastrointestinal tract and its compartments. Oats can be the sole grain source in gestating sow diets, but the rations will need to be balanced to meet energy requirements. For lactating sows, the percentage of oats in the diet should be lower than for gestating sows because producing milk for piglets requires more energy.
Oats can be included in pig diets at a rate of up to 25% for pigs under 60 lbs and up to 40% for growing-finishing swine without measurably decreasing the rate of gain. However, because of the lower concentration of energy in oats, daily feed intake and feed required per pound of gain increases as the level of oats in the diet is increased. Oats can be fed at higher levels if they are heavy oats of good quality.
Oats can also help minimize diarrhoea problems in weaned and small feeder pigs and can protect gestating sows from constipation and prevent ulcers in growing pigs. Oats help maintain normal intestinal function and can minimize stress behaviour.
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Rye as a feed ingredient for swine
Rye is not a common feed ingredient for swine, but it can be used in swine diets if available. It is cultivated in colder climates, such as in Canada and Northern Europe, and can be grown where other cereals cannot. As such, rye contains higher levels of anti-nutritional factors compared to wheat and barley. It is also more susceptible to ergot contamination than other cereal grains, so testing should be done to ensure it is ergot-free. Ergot-infested rye contains toxic alkaloids, including ergotamine, ergotoxine, and ergonovine, among other toxic compounds.
Rye has a good level of energy (10 MJ NE/kg) and contains high levels of starch (54%) and a significant amount of protein (9%). It is also higher in crude protein and lysine than corn. This means that less soybean meal may be needed in diets to compensate. The inclusion of rye in swine diets can also improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process and the pellet quality, as the water retention capacity of the soluble fibrous fractions facilitates the pelleting process.
However, there are some issues with the palatability of rye, and it is unbalanced in sulfur amino acids, with a concentration 5-8% lower than that of wheat. Additionally, the high fiber content of rye may affect energy requirements. Therefore, rye should be kept to a minimum in young pig and lactating sow diets and should not make up more than 50% of a grower-finisher diet.
In recent years, new hybrid rye varieties have been developed with lower anti-nutritional factors and improved ergot resistance. Several feeding trials have been conducted with pigs using these hybrid varieties, and animal performance has matched that of corn or wheat-based diets when rations were properly formulated.
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The benefits of small grains in pig diets
Small grains such as barley, oats, rye, triticale, and wheat can be used in pig diets. They are feed alternatives to corn and soybeans that can be useful in pig rations. When well-balanced small grain rations replace corn and soybeans in swine diets, they can reduce the high diet costs pig farmers face.
Small grains are lower in fat, higher in fiber, and typically contain less metabolizable energy than corn. However, these differences do not appear to negatively impact average daily gains when fed in finishing diets. In many studies, these grains have successfully replaced 100% of the corn used in control diets. The lower energy content has affected feed efficiency in some cases because pigs on small grain diets ate more than pigs on corn-based diets.
Small grains are higher in crude protein and lysine compared to corn. This means that you may need to reduce the amount of soybean meal in your diets to compensate. The phosphorus in small grains is also more available to swine than in corn, providing both economic and environmental benefits. Wheat, for example, can be used as the sole cereal grain in grow-finish pig diets. While wheat is an expensive feed grain in Corn Belt cash grain markets, it can play a beneficial role in an integrated crop-livestock system when fed on or near the farm.
Barley and oats have higher fiber content than other small grains because the kernels are encased in a hull. The higher fiber content of barley does not appear to negatively affect gains in growing-finishing swine if plump, high-test weight grain is fed. Additionally, the high heat increment of barley and oats can help keep animals warm in cold environments, making them advantageous to feed during the winter. However, in hot conditions, the additional heat generated by the fibrous feeds may lead to reduced feed intake.
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Frequently asked questions
Cereal grains such as wheat, barley, oats, rye and triticale can be used in pig diets.
Grains are used in pig diets as alternatives to corn and soybeans. They are also used to reduce feed costs.
To ensure the best animal performance, it is recommended to work with a nutritionist to formulate properly balanced rations.
Barley can be used as a complete replacement for corn in grower-finisher and gestation rations. It is also desirable for inclusion into weaner pig rations to help reduce the incidence of diarrhea.
Wheat can replace corn entirely in pig rations across all production phases. It is also an excellent source of crude protein, lysine and phosphorus.
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