Pig Feed Formulation in Kenya: Creep, Weaner, Grower and Finisher Feed
What goes into balanced pig feed at every stage (creep, weaner, grower, finisher and sows) from Kenyan ingredients, what pigs need at each stage, how much they eat, and whether home mixing pays.
In this guide▾
Pigs need different feed at each stage of growth. Piglets need the most protein, about 20%, and finishers need the least, about 14%.
In Kenya, a good home-made grower meal is built on maize germ and wheat pollard, with omena and a little soybean meal for protein. Here's what each stage needs, and how to get the mix right.
Our pig feed formulation calculator works out the cheapest balanced mix for each stage from the ingredients you have. The exact recipe and a PDF unlock with M-Pesa.
What pigs need at each stage
| Stage | Weight | Crude protein | Lysine (at least) | Energy (DE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creep and piglet starter | 5–20 kg | 20–24% | 1.10% | 3,250+ kcal/kg |
| Weaner | 20–50 kg | 18–22% | 0.87% | 3,100+ kcal/kg |
| Grower | 50–80 kg | 16–20% | 0.66% | 3,000+ kcal/kg |
| Finisher | 80 kg to market | 14–18% | 0.53% | 3,000+ kcal/kg |
| Pregnant sow | — | 13–17% | 0.46% | 2,900+ kcal/kg |
| Nursing sow | — | 16–20% | 0.86% | 3,200+ kcal/kg |
Protein floors follow Kenyan pig feeding guidance. Lysine, methionine, calcium and phosphorus come from the US National Research Council's swine requirements (NRC 1998, via the Pork Information Gateway), scaled to each stage's energy, since pigs on a lower-energy home mix eat a little more of it. Ingredient energy values for pigs come from Feedipedia.
Lysine is the one to watch. It's the amino acid pigs run short of first, and maize, germ and bran are all low in it. Pigs short of lysine grow slowly and lay down fat instead of meat, even when the crude protein looks fine.
How the mix changes from piglet to sow
| Stage | What the bag leans on |
|---|---|
| Creep | Mostly maize and pollard, with plenty of soybean meal and omena; a touch of feed-grade lysine |
| Weaner | Maize germ comes in; soybean meal steps down |
| Grower | Maize germ and pollard carry most of the bag; only a little soya |
| Finisher | Almost no soya; germ, pollard and omena do the work |
| Pregnant sow | Cheapest of all: germ, pollard and some bran; no soya needed |
| Nursing sow | Back up to maize and soya, because milk production needs lysine |
Omena provides most of the calcium and phosphorus in the grower and finisher mixes, which is why they need little or no lime. The kilo-by-kilo recipe for all six stages, at your own prices, is in the calculator.
How much feed does a pig eat per day?
| Stage | Feed per pig per day |
|---|---|
| Piglets on creep | a handful at week 2, up to about 1 kg by 20 kg |
| Weaners | about 1–2 kg |
| Growers | about 2–2.5 kg |
| Finishers | about 2.5–3 kg |
| Pregnant sows | about 2 kg (gilts) to 2.5 kg (sows), more in the last month |
| Nursing sows | about 2 kg plus 0.25 kg for every piglet |
The sow figures follow Farmer's Choice's swine nutrition guide: don't overfeed in pregnancy, because fat sows eat less after farrowing.
Is it cheaper to make your own pig feed?
Usually not at retail prices. A Nairobi feed price list in August 2026 had sow and weaner meal and pig finisher at KES 2,300 a 70 kg bag, and when we priced a balanced grower mix with every ingredient bought by the kilo, it came out well above the bag. Commercial pig meal is cheap partly because it's heavy on bran.
Mixing your own pays when you:
- grow maize, or buy maize germ and pollard straight from a posho mill;
- have cheap local protein: omena at the lake, sunflower cake from a nearby press, or black soldier fly larvae you raise yourself;
- want to be sure your pigs are getting enough lysine to grow lean.
Run your own prices through the calculator: it tells you honestly whether your mix beats the bag.
Common pig feeding mistakes
- Boil kitchen and hotel waste (swill). Raw swill spreads African swine fever, which has no vaccine.
- Mouldy feed causes abortions in sows and slow growth. Never feed anything musty.
- Cotton seed cake is toxic to pigs in larger amounts: keep it to a small share.
- Too much fishmeal or omena can taint the pork.
- Raw soybeans must be roasted first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make pig feed at home in Kenya?
Weigh out an energy feed (maize, maize germ or pollard), a protein feed (soybean meal or omena), a little feed lime and salt, and a pig premix in the proportions for your pigs' stage (the calculator gives the exact kilos), pre-mix the small items into a few kilos of maize, then turn the whole batch on a clean floor.
What is the best pig feed formula for growers?
With Kenyan ingredients, mostly maize germ and wheat pollard, with some maize, omena and a little soybean meal, plus salt and premix, balanced to 16% crude protein and enough lysine. The exact split depends on your prices; the calculator finds the cheapest one that still meets the standard.
How much protein do pigs need?
About 20–22% for creep feed, 18% for weaners, 16% for growers, 14% for finishers, about 13% for pregnant sows and 16% or more for nursing sows.
Can I feed pigs only maize germ?
No. Maize germ alone is short of protein and especially lysine; pigs grow slowly and get fat. Add a protein feed or feed-grade lysine.
Where can I get a pig feed formulation PDF?
Our pig feed formulation calculator builds the formula for your own ingredients and prices, with a PDF to print or share on WhatsApp.
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