Why RTG Swine Concentrate Can Make Your Finished Pig Feed Cheaper

Why RTG Swine Concentrate Can Make Your Finished Pig Feed Cheaper

Are you spending too much money on pig feed? Have you considered whether you could produce your finished feed more economically without compromising the nutritional needs of your pigs?

Feed is one of the major expenses in pig production. For Nigerian pig farmers, the cost of ingredients, transportation, storage and feed preparation can place considerable pressure on farm profitability.

One option worth considering is concentrate-based feed formulation.

RTG Swine Concentrate offers pig farmers an alternative approach to producing finished feed by combining a prepared concentrate with specified additional ingredients.

In this guide, we explain how concentrate-based feeding works, how it can help farmers manage production costs and how to calculate the actual cost of producing finished pig feed using RTG Swine Concentrate.

1. What Is Pig Feed Concentrate?

Pig feed concentrate is a prepared mixture of selected nutrients and ingredients intended to be combined with other specified ingredients to produce finished feed.

Depending on the product, a concentrate may supply some of the protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients required in the final diet.

The farmer adds the other ingredients according to the manufacturer's recommended formulation.

The result is finished pig feed intended for a particular production stage, provided the recommended inclusion rate and complete formulation meet the pigs' nutritional requirements.

This differs from conventional formulation, where the feed manufacturer sources and combines the individual ingredients required to achieve the desired nutrient composition.

Neither approach is automatically cheaper in every situation. The final result depends on ingredient prices, formulation quality, concentrate cost, production efficiency and the nutritional requirements of the pigs.

2. Why Pig Feed Production Costs Matter

A pig farmer should not judge a feeding system only by the price of one ingredient.

The important question is:

How much does it cost to produce a kilogram of finished feed that meets the nutritional requirements of the pigs?

A feed ingredient may appear inexpensive, but its value depends on its nutrient composition, quality, digestibility, availability and the quantity required in the formulation.

Similarly, an expensive ingredient may contribute nutrients that would otherwise require several other ingredients.

The farmer must therefore consider the total cost of the complete formula.

This is where concentrate-based formulation can be useful. It allows farmers to purchase a prepared nutrient package and combine it with the specified additional ingredients.

3. How RTG Swine Concentrate Can Help Farmers

RTG Swine Concentrate is designed to be used with additional ingredients according to the applicable formulation.

For farmers, the potential benefits include the following.

Simplified ingredient purchasing

Instead of independently sourcing every component of a complete formulation, the farmer purchases the concentrate and the additional ingredients specified for the finished feed.

This can simplify procurement and make planning easier.

More convenient mixing

A prepared concentrate can reduce the need to weigh and combine every individual microingredient separately, depending on the product specifications.

However, farmers must still weigh all ingredients accurately and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Better cost planning

Once the price of the concentrate and the additional ingredients is known, the farmer can calculate the total batch cost before production.

This makes it easier to estimate the cost per kilogram and compare alternative feeding systems.

Use of locally available ingredients

Where the formulation permits, suitable locally available ingredients can be combined with the concentrate.

For Nigerian pig farmers, this may include ingredients such as maize, cassava flour, wheat offal and palm kernel cake (PKC).

The choice and quantities of these ingredients must follow the concentrate's specified formulation. Substitutions should not be made casually because different ingredients contribute different nutrients.

4. A Practical RTG Swine Concentrate Cost Example for Weaner Feed

Let us use actual ingredient prices supplied for this example.

The formulation consists of:

RTG Swine Concentrate: 20 kg
Maize: 20 kg
Cassava flour: 20 kg
Wheat offal: 20 kg
Palm kernel cake (PKC): 30 kg

The stated ingredient prices are:

RTG Swine Concentrate: ₦15,000 per 20 kg
Maize: ₦400 per kg
Cassava flour: ₦220 per kg
Wheat offal: ₦400 per kg
PKC: ₦200 per kg

The cost calculation is shown below.

RTG Swine Concentrate
20 kg × ₦750 per kg = ₦15,000

Maize
20 kg × ₦400 per kg = ₦8,000

Cassava flour
20 kg × ₦220 per kg = ₦4,400

Wheat offal
20 kg × ₦400 per kg = ₦8,000

PKC
30 kg × ₦200 per kg = ₦6,000

Total ingredient cost = ₦41,400

Total batch weight = 110 kg

Estimated ingredient cost per kilogram:

₦41,400 ÷ 110 kg = ₦376.36 per kg

Estimated ingredient cost per 25 kg:

₦376.36 × 25 = ₦9,409.09

Estimated ingredient cost per 50 kg:

₦376.36 × 50 = ₦18,818.18

Estimated ingredient cost per 100 kg equivalent:

₦376.36 × 100 = ₦37,636.36

These figures are based on the supplied prices and quantities. They represent ingredient costs only, before transportation, labour, milling, mixing, storage losses and other applicable production expenses.

Important: The stated formulation produces 110 kg, not 100 kg. The figures above are a cost illustration, not independent confirmation that this formula meets all the nutritional requirements of weaner pigs. Before commercial use, the concentrate's recommended inclusion rate and the complete diet's nutritional adequacy must be verified.

5. Does Concentrate-Based Formulation Always Produce Cheaper Feed?

No. This is an important point every responsible feed supplier and pig farmer should understand.

Concentrate-based formulation can offer cost advantages, but those advantages depend on the prices of the concentrate and the additional ingredients.

A conventional formulation may be cheaper where a feed manufacturer has access to competitively priced ingredients, can formulate accurately and can purchase microingredients economically.

On the other hand, concentrate-based formulation may be attractive where the prepared concentrate offers good value and simplifies the sourcing and handling of the ingredients needed for the finished feed.

The only reliable way to establish which option is cheaper is to compare the total cost of producing nutritionally comparable finished feeds.

Farmers should avoid comparing a complete concentrate-based formula with the price of only one ingredient in a conventional formulation.

The comparison must cover the entire finished-feed batch.

6. Why Buying Ingredients Separately Can Be Challenging

Conventional formulation can require the purchase of several ingredients, including protein sources, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and energy sources.

Depending on the formulation, these may include:

Soybean meal
Groundnut cake (GNC)
Fish meal
Lysine
Methionine
Vitamin and mineral premix
Other mineral sources
Energy ingredients

The prices of these materials can vary considerably with availability, quality, supplier and location.

Farmers and feed manufacturers must also consider storage, accurate weighing, ingredient quality and the quantities needed.

For a small farmer, obtaining every ingredient in the correct quantity may be inconvenient.

A suitable concentrate can simplify part of this process by supplying a prepared nutrient package.

However, the concentrate does not eliminate the need for proper formulation. The farmer must still use the specified additional ingredients in the correct quantities.

7. The Importance of Following the Recommended Inclusion Rate

One of the most important rules when using pig feed concentrate is to follow the manufacturer's recommended formulation.

Adding too much or too little concentrate can change the nutrient composition of the finished feed.

Likewise, replacing a specified ingredient with another material without checking its nutritional contribution can affect the balance of the diet.

For example, maize, cassava flour, wheat offal and PKC differ in their energy, protein, fibre and other nutrient contributions.

They should not be treated as interchangeable ingredients simply because they are available locally.

Before using RTG Swine Concentrate, confirm the appropriate inclusion rate, the additional ingredients required and the intended production stage.

The complete formula should provide suitable energy, protein, essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins for the target pigs.

8. Why the Cheapest Feed May Not Be the Most Economical

The cost of one kilogram of feed is important, but it does not tell the entire story.

A feed must also support satisfactory pig performance.

Farmers should monitor:

Feed intake
Weight gain
Feed conversion ratio
Health
Mortality
Days required to reach market weight
Total feed consumed
Cost per kilogram of weight gain

Suppose two feeding systems produce feed at different prices per kilogram.

The cheaper feed is not necessarily the more economical option if it fails to support adequate growth or requires substantially more feed to produce the same weight gain.

For this reason, feed cost should be considered alongside animal performance.

A useful measure is the cost of feed required to produce a kilogram of weight gain.

Feed cost per kilogram of weight gain can be estimated by multiplying the feed cost per kilogram by the feed conversion ratio, provided both figures relate to the same production period and are measured consistently.

For example, if feed costs ₦400 per kg and the observed feed conversion ratio is 3.0, the feed cost per kilogram of weight gain would be:

₦400 × 3.0 = ₦1,200

This is an illustrative calculation, not a performance claim for RTG Swine Concentrate.

Actual results depend on the pigs, diet, health, housing, environment and management.

9. How Farmers Can Compare RTG Concentrate With Conventional Formulation

To make a fair comparison, calculate the total cost of both approaches.

For the RTG concentrate-based approach, include:

The cost of RTG Swine Concentrate
The cost of all additional ingredients
Applicable milling and mixing costs
Transportation and handling costs
Other relevant production expenses

For conventional formulation, include:

The cost of all ingredients required
The cost of protein sources
The cost of amino acids and premix
The cost of minerals and other supplements
Applicable milling and mixing costs
Transportation and handling costs
Other relevant production expenses

Then calculate the cost per kilogram of finished feed.

Formula:

Cost per kilogram of finished feed = Total production cost ÷ Total finished feed produced

For a meaningful comparison, both formulations should meet comparable nutritional requirements for the same category of pig.

Where reliable prices for all conventional ingredients are unavailable, it is better to present the verified cost of the RTG batch and explain the comparison method than to invent prices or claim unverified savings.

10. How RTG Swine Concentrate Can Support Better Feed Cost Management

For farmers using RTG Swine Concentrate, the first step is to establish the cost of the finished-feed batch using current ingredient prices.

The next step is to record the amount of feed used and monitor the pigs' growth.

This information helps the farmer answer three important questions:

How much does it cost to produce the feed?

How well are the pigs performing on the diet?

What is the resulting feed cost per kilogram of weight gain?

These figures provide a better basis for judging the economic value of the feeding system.

Farmers should also keep records of ingredient suppliers, purchase dates, prices and batch quantities. Updating these figures when market prices change helps maintain accurate production-cost estimates.

RTG Swine Concentrate should always be used according to its applicable formulation and product instructions.

11. Practical Tips for Reducing Pig Feed Production Costs

Farmers can improve cost control by following these practices.

Buy ingredients based on a production plan.

Compare supplier prices while considering quality and transportation costs.

Store ingredients properly to reduce moisture damage, contamination and pest losses.

Use accurate weighing equipment.

Follow the concentrate manufacturer's instructions.

Avoid unverified ingredient substitutions.

Maintain clean and functional feeding equipment.

Monitor feed wastage.

Keep records of feed purchased and consumed.

Weigh pigs regularly where practical.

Track growth and feed conversion.

Review production costs when ingredient prices change.

Seek qualified nutrition advice when changing formulations.

These practices help farmers understand their real costs and identify opportunities for improvement.

12. Frequently Asked Questions

Is RTG Swine Concentrate cheaper than conventional pig feed formulation?

It can be cost-effective, depending on the price of the concentrate, the additional ingredients, production expenses and the cost of a nutritionally comparable conventional formulation. A fair comparison requires the complete costs of both systems.

How much does it cost to produce the RTG weaner-feed batch in this example?

Using the stated quantities and prices, the 110 kg batch has a total ingredient cost of ₦41,400, equivalent to approximately ₦376.36 per kg before additional production expenses.

Can farmers use local ingredients with RTG Swine Concentrate?

Yes, where the ingredients are specifically permitted by the manufacturer's formulation. Farmers should use the recommended quantities and should not substitute ingredients without checking the nutritional implications.

Does using concentrate mean that farmers no longer need to formulate feed?

No. Farmers still need to follow the specified formulation, weigh ingredients accurately and ensure that the complete feed is appropriate for the intended pigs.

Is the lowest-cost feed always the best option?

No. Farmers should consider the feed's nutritional adequacy, pig growth, health, feed conversion and total cost of producing weight gain, not just the purchase price per kilogram.

How can farmers know whether RTG Swine Concentrate is economical for their farms?

Calculate the total cost of the finished feed, record feed consumption and monitor pig performance. These figures provide a practical basis for evaluating the feeding system.

13. Conclusion

Producing pig feed economically requires more than looking for the cheapest ingredients.

Farmers need to consider the cost of the complete formula, the convenience of sourcing and handling ingredients, nutritional adequacy and the performance of the pigs.

RTG Swine Concentrate offers a concentrate-based approach that can simplify feed production and help farmers plan ingredient costs.

Using the actual prices supplied for the weaner-feed example, the 110 kg batch has an estimated ingredient cost of ₦41,400, or approximately ₦376.36 per kg before additional production expenses.

This provides a useful starting point for cost monitoring. However, demonstrating that concentrate is cheaper than conventional formulation requires a comparison with a nutritionally comparable formula using verified ingredient prices.

The objective should always be to produce suitable feed at a competitive cost while supporting healthy pigs and efficient production.

RTG Livestock & Feeds encourages pig farmers to understand their ingredients, follow recommended formulations, monitor animal performance and calculate their actual production costs.

Better cost information leads to better decisions, and better decisions can help build a more sustainable pig farming business.