Tool

Pig feed calculator by phase and feed cost per finished hog

Quick answer

Multiply the days in each phase by the average daily feed for that phase and add them up: that is the feed per pig started. Divide by the share that survives (1 minus death loss) to get feed per finished pig, then multiply by your feed price per pound. Montana State University Extension lists about 4.46 lb a day for 75 to 125 lb pigs and 6.35 lb a day at 150 to 200 lb.

Written byVeterinário Raiz TeamUpdated onOctober 14, 2026

Set the days and daily feed for each phase, the death loss and your feed price. The tool shows how much feed each finished pig eats and what it costs.

Nursery: days in phasedaysNursery: average daily feedlb/dayGrower: days in phasedaysGrower: average daily feedlb/dayFinisher: days in phasedaysFinisher: average daily feedlb/day

Defaults from Montana State University Extension: 4.46 lb/day at 75–125 lb and 6.35 lb/day at 150–200 lb; days assume the 1.8 lb/day average gain (50→125 lb and 125→270 lb). Nursery is left blank: enter your own.

Pigs startedheadDeath loss%Use the death loss from your recent groups.Feed priceUS$/lbOther costs per pig startedUS$

Enter days and daily feed for at least one phase.

The math runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent, saved or shared.

How the math works

Feed per phase = days in phase × average daily feed (lb/day).
Feed per pig started = sum of the phases.
Feed per finished pig = feed per pig started ÷ (1 − death loss).
Feed cost = feed per finished pig × price per lb. Other costs per pig started are also spread over the survivors.

Where the defaults come from

The Montana State University Extension planning sheet gives daily feed intake by weight, from 2.85 lb/day at 50 to 75 lb up to 7.3 lb/day at 250 to 270 lb, and a national average gain of 1.8 lb/day. The grower default uses the 75 to 125 lb row and the finisher default the 150 to 200 lb row. Oregon State University Extension expects 1.5 to 2 lb of daily gain on a good diet.

Limits

Intake changes with genetics, diet energy, temperature and feeder waste. If feed is priced per ton, divide by 2,000 to get price per lb. For the bigger picture, read raising pigs for meat.

Frequently asked questions

How much feed does a pig eat to reach market weight?

Oregon State University Extension puts it at about 2.5 to 3 lb of feed per lb of gain on a good diet, so a feeder pig gaining 200 lb needs roughly 500 to 600 lb of feed. Montana State uses 3 to 4 lb as a planning range.

Why is the nursery phase blank?

The extension table used here starts at 50 lb. If you buy feeder pigs above that weight, leave it blank; if you raise weaned pigs, enter the days and daily intake from your starter feed label.

How are the default days worked out?

From the 1.8 lb per day national average gain on the Montana State sheet: 50 to 125 lb takes about 42 days and 125 to 270 lb about 81 days. Change them to match your pigs.

Why does death loss raise feed per finished pig?

Feed eaten by pigs that die has to be paid for by the ones that reach market. The tool counts a lost pig as if it ate the whole period, so the estimate runs slightly high.

Sources

Keep going

See everything on Small-farm pigs: raising feeder pigs for meat Aquarium Volume Calculator Cat food calculator (calories per day)Cattle average daily gain (ADG) calculator and finish date