ICS 65.120           DMS 240:2017  
Second edition 
 
 
 
 
 
DRAFT MALAWI STANDARD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pig feed – Specification 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: This is a draft standard and it shall neither  be used nor regarded as a Malawi standard  
 
 ICS 65.120        DMS 240:2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pig feed – Specification 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Obtainable from the 
Malawi Bureau of Standards 
Moirs Road 
P O Box 946 
BLANTYRE 
 
Tel: +265 1 870 488 
Fax: +265 1 870 756 
E-mail: mbs@mbsmw.org 
Website: www.mbsmw.org 
Price based on 8 pages 
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i 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
Contents                                                                                                                                                     Page 
 
Foreword .......................................... ................................................... ................................................... .............. i  
Technical Committee ............................... ................................................... ................................................... ...... i 
Notice ............................................ ................................................... ................................................... ................. i  
Scope ............................................. ................................................... ................................................... .............. 1  
Normative references .............................. ................................................... ................................................... .... 1 
Types and definitions of pig feeds ................ ................................................... .................................................. 1 
Compositional requirements and quality factors .... ................................................... ........................................ 1  
Hygiene ........................................... ................................................... ................................................... ............. 3  
Packing and marking ............................... ................................................... ................................................... .... 3 
Methods of sampling and tests ..................... ................................................... .................................................. 4 
Annex A; Ingredients for pig feeds ................ ................................................... ................................................. 5  
Annex B; Determination of metabolizable energy (ME)  .................................................. .................................. 7  
 
 
FOREWORD 
 
This draft standard is the first revision of MS 240 :1995. The revision of this standard is being done after 
consideration of several issues that need to be ame nded and readdressed. It has been prepared by the 
MBS/TC 34, Meat and meat products to provide requirements for pig feed. 
 
In preparing this standard reference was made to th e following standards: 
 
Indian standard, IS 7472 1986 (Reaffirmed in 2001) , Pig feed – Specification. 
 
Acknowledgement is made for the use of the informat ion. 
 
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 
 
This draft standard was prepared by the Technical C ommittee MBS/TC 34, Meat and meat products, and the  
following companies, organizations and institutions  were represented: 
 
Central Poultry Feeds Limited; 
Kamphonji Enterprises Limited; 
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Reso urces; 
Malawi Bureau of Standards; 
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Devel opment - Blantyre Veterinary Laboratory;  
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Devel opment - Department of Animal Health and Livestock 
Development; and 
University of Malawi – Chancellor College. 
 
NOTICE 
 
This standard shall be reviewed every five years, o r earlier when it is necessary, in order to keep ab reast of 
progress. Comments are welcome and shall be conside red when the standard is being reviewed.  
1 
               DMS 240: 2017 
 
DRAFT MALAWI STANDARD 
 
Pig feed – Specification 
 
1 SCOPE  
 
This draft standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling and tests for pig feed. 
 
 
2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES 
 
The following standard contains provisions, which t hrough reference in this text, constitute provision s of this 
draft standard. All standards are subject to revisi on and, since any reference to a standard is deemed  to be a 
reference to the latest edition of that standard, p arties to agreements based on this draft standard a re 
encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the m ost recent edition of the standard indicated below.  
Information on current valid national and internati onal standards can be obtained from the Malawi Bure au of 
Standards. 
 
MS 289: Animal feeds and feeding stuffs – Methods of sampli ng and tests 
 
Part 1: Sampling 
 
Part 2: General methods; 
 
Part 3: Minerals and trace elements; 
 
Part 4: Microbiological methods; 
 
MS 722: Labelling, presentation and advertising of prepacke d goods for ultimate consumers; and 
 
MS 1259:  Code of practice for good animal feeding; and 
 
Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods  (AOAC). 
 
 
3 TYPES AND DEFINITIONS OF PIG FEEDS 
 
For the purpose of this draft standard, the followi ng types and their definitions shall apply: 
 
3.1 
pig starter / creep feed 
a ration intended for suckling piglets from the age  of two weeks to approximately 20 Kg live weight, w hen the 
litter is with sow 
 
3.2 
pig growth meal 
A ration to be fed from weaning to 35 Kg live weigh t 
 
3.3 
pig finishing meal/ breeding meal 
a ration intended for pigs over 35 Kg live weight 
 
 
4 COMPOSITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND QUALITY FACTORS 
 
4.1 General 
 
Pig feeds shall be in form of pellets, cubes, crumb s or meal. The feeds shall be free from rancidity, musty 
odour, harmful constituents such as dust, metallic pieces, adulterants, insect infestation and visible  fungus 
growth.  
2 
 4.2 Ingredients 
 
4.2.1  All ingredients of the feed shall be of high quali ty and free from rancidity, insects and fungus 
infestations, adulterants and foreign material. Mat erials of animal origin shall have been sterilized prior to 
use. 
 
4.2.2  Ingredients of pig feed shall conform to the requi rements specified in Table 1 
 
Table 1: Requirements of ingredients for pig feeds 
 
1 2 3 
Ingredient Composition  
Minimum  Maximum  
Blood meal (% m/m) - 3 
Oil seed cake meal (% m/m) - 5 
Fish meal* (% m/m) 2 - 
Meat and bone meal, (% m/m)  4 
Common salt, (% m/m) - 5 
*Fish meal shall be used in early weaning meals  
 
4.2.3 Prohibited ingredients. Urea and other non-protein nitrogenous substances s hall not be added to 
the product because these might not be digested by the pigs and can be toxic. Charcoal in any form sha ll not 
be incorporated in a meal. 
 
4.2.4  No flavourings which do not add any nutritional va lue of the diet shall be added to any feed. 
 
4.2.5 Growth stimulants, antibiotics and related compound s added to a feed, shall be used at the levels 
accepted by the Department of Animal Health and Liv estock Development, and the registration number sha ll 
be quoted on application for MBS Certification Mark . 
 
4.2.6  If antibiotics and other additives are incorporate d into the feeds, these shall be declared on the la bel. 
The level of antibiotics shall not exceed 100 ppm. 
 
4.3 Final product 
 
4.3.1  Moisture content. The maximum moisture content shall be stated on the  label and the composition of 
the feed shall be based on the stated moisture cont ent. 
 
4.3.2  Pig feed shall comply with compositional and nutri tive requirements as stipulated in Table 2. 
   
3 
 Table 2: compositional and nutritive requirements f or pig feed 
 
1 2 3 4 5 
Characteristic / Nutrient Pig 
starter/Creep, 
feed Pig growth 
meal Pig 
finishing/breeding  
meal Method of test 
Moisture content, (% m/m), 
max 11 11 11 MS 289-2 
Crude fibre, (% m/m), max 5 6 8 MS 289-2 
Crude fat, (% m/m) 2 2 2 MS 289-2 
Crude protein, (% m/m), min 20 18 16 MS 289-2 
Total ash,(% m/m), max 8 8 8 MS 289-2 
Acid insoluble ash (% m/m), 
max 4 4 4 MS 289-2 
Metabolizable energy 
(Kcal/Kg), min 3600 3170 3170 Annex B 
Calcium (Ca)*, (% m/m), min 0.6 0.6 0.6 MS 289-3 
Available phosphorus ˖ (P) *, 
(% m/m), min 0.6 0.4 0.5 MS 289-3 
Copper (Cu) *, mg/Kg, min 8 6 6 MS 289-3 
Iron (Fe) *, mg/Kg, min 100 90 80 MS 289-3 
Manganese (Mn)*, mg/Kg, 
min 30 30 20 MS 289-3 
Zinc (Zn) *, mg/Kg, min 50 50 50 MS 289-3 
Chlorine, mg/Kg, min 900  900  800  AOAC 
Niacin, mg/Kg 17 14 10 AOAC  
Pantothenic acid, mg/Kg 11 10  10  AOAC  
Riboflavin, mg/Kg 3.0  2.4 2.2 AOAC  
Vitamin B 12 activity, µg/Kg 15 11 11 AOAC  
Vitamin A, IU/Kg 1700 1300 1300 AOAC  
Vitamin D, IU/Kg 190 180 130 AOAC  
Note:  For elements marked with * , the values specified are on moisture free-basis 
 
 
5 HYGIENE 
 
Pig feeds shall be prepared and handled in accordan ce with MS 1259. 
 
 
6 PACKING AND MARKING 
 
6.1 Packing 
 
Pig feeds shall be packed in containers which are g ood and clean and which shall preferably be non 
returnable. 
  
4 
 6.2 Marking 
 
In addition to the requirements of MS 722, the foll owing particulars shall be marked either on the con tainer or 
the label attached thereto: 
 
6.2.1  Name and type of the product in accordance clause 3; 
 
6.2.2 Name and address of the manufacturer; 
 
6.2.3 Batch or code number; 
 
6.2.4 The date of manufacture and expected date of expiry ; 
 
6.2.5 The declared percentage of the following: 
 
a) Crude protein; 
b) Crude fibre; 
c) Crude fat; 
d) Calcium; 
e) Phosphorus; and 
f) Moisture; 
 
6.2.6  Quantity of antibiotics and other additives if add ed; 
 
6.2.7  If copper sulphate has been added, the amount adde d in mg/Kg and a warning that the feed must 
not be given to adult breeding stock; and 
 
6.2.8  Net mass of contents, when packed. 
 
 
7 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTS 
 
The method of drawing a representative sample of th e material and criteria for conformity, and the met hods 
of testing for compliance with this standard shall be done in accordance with MS 289 (Parts 1- 4). 
   
5 
 ANNEX A 
(Informative) 
 
INGREDIENTS OF PIG FEEDS 
A.1 Grain and Seeds 
 
Bajra, Bajri (Pennisetum  typhoides) 
Barley (Hordeurn  vulgare) 
Black gram (Phaseolus  mungo) 
Chinna, Cheena (Panicum  miliaceum) 
Kulthi or Horse gram ( Dolichos biflorus) 
Jowar, Cholam (Sorghum vulgare) 
Oats, (Avena  sterilis) 
Panwar (Cassiu tora) 
Ragi (Eleusive  coracana) 
Maize 
Sawan (Echionochloa  coIona) 
 
 
A.2 Grain by-products 
 
Arhar chuni 
Black gram chuni 
Gram chuni 
Gram sievings 
Maize bran, maize gluten and maize gluten feed 
Rice bran or solvent extracted rice bran and polish ings 
Wheat bran 
 
A.3 Oil cakes and meals 
 
Copra cake, coconut cake (expeller-pressed or solve nt extracted); 
Cottonseed oil cake (decorticated) (expeller-presse d or solvent extracted)-up to 5 percent by mass; 
Groundnut oil cake (expeller-pressed or solvent ext racted); 
Guar (Cyamopsis  tetragonoloba)  - up to 5 percent by mass; 
Maize germ oil cake; 
Mustard cake; 
Safflower ( Carthamus tinetorius) cake (expeller-pressed or solvent extracted); 
Sesamum ( Sesamun indicum orientale) cake (expeller-pressed or solvent extracted ); 
Soyabean oil cake; 
Cowpeas 
Pigeons peas 
Sunflower oil cake. 
 
A.4 Tubers and roots 
 
Tapioca flour  
6 
 A.5 Animal products 
 
Blood meal 
Fish meal 
Liver residue 
Meat meal and meat scrap 
 
A.6 Greens 
 
Berseem (Trifolium  alexandrium) leaf meal 
Lucerne (Medicago sativa) leaf meal 
Panwar (Cassia  tora) leaf meal 
Dhaincha ( Sesbania grandfflore) ( dried) 
Spinach (dried) 
Centrosema 
Stylo. 
 
A.7 Minerals, vitamins and supplements 
 
Bonemeal (steamed) 
Common salt 
Dicalcium phosphate (fluorine content not to exceed  0.05 percent) or monocalcium phosphate 
Limestone 
Oyster shells 
Vitamins (mineral-stablized) 
 
A.8 Waste, materials and industrial by-products 
 
Brewers’ grains 
Dried yeast and yeast sludge 
Mango seed kernel 
Mahua flower residue 
Molasses (Khandsari type) 
Penicillin mycelium residue 
Dried silkworm pupae 
   
7 
 ANNEX B 
(Normative) 
 
DETERMINATION OF METABOLIZABLE ENERGY 
 
B.1 APPARATUS 
 
B.1.1 Brooder,  battery or floor type. 
 
B1.2 Glass bottles,  stoppered, wide-mouthed. 
 
 
B.2 REAGENTS 
 
B.2.1 Acetic acid  - 2 %. 
 
B.2.2 Sulphuric acid  - 5 %. 
 
 
B.3 PROCEDURE 
 
B.3.1 Place 25 three-week old healthy chicks (white legho rn or Rhode Island Red ) in a brooder and rear 
them on the experimental feed for an &day acclimati zation period. Then on the second day of the fifth week, 
give the chicks the requisite amount of accurately weighed experimental feed at a fixed hour in the mo rning. 
Simultaneously, spread the polyethylene sheets on t he faeces trays for the collection of excreta. Coll ect a 
representative sample of feed for dry matter percen tage and proximate analysis. Next day at the same h our 
collect the remaining feed and the faeces excreted and weigh them. A representative sample of the 
remaining feed is again collected for dry matter pe rcentage. The difference in dry mass of feed offere d, and 
the remaining feed gives the amount of dry matter c onsumed during 24 hours. Collect the aliquots from 
excreta, after mixing it well, for dry matter  and nitrogen estimation separately ( one-twentieth and one-
hundredth parts respectively ) in widemouthed and g lass-stoppered bottles, and keep them in a refriger ator. 
 
For nitrogen estimation, samples in duplicate shoul d be preserved in 5 % sulphuric acid. 
 
NOTE - The age of the birds during the collection period m ay vary from 5 to 10 weeks, but this does not affec t the ME value 
significantly. 
 
B.3.2  Repeat the same procedure on the next two alternat e days and ~001 together the three-day 
samples of excreta for the analysis. For dry matter  estimation, add about 10 ml of 2 % acetic acid for  every 
50 g of the excreta and dry it in an oven at about 80°C till constant mass is obtained. Find out the t otal dry 
matter voided in three days. 
 
B.3.3  Analyze the samples of feed and the excreta for th eir crude protein, ether extract, total ash and tot al 
carbohydrate content. Calculate on dry matter basis . 
 
 
B.4 CALCULATION 
 
B.4.1 Calculate gross calories in feed and excreta.  The calorific values of crude protein, ether extra ct and 
total carbohydratesare 5’65, 9.40 and 4.15 Cal/g re spectively. 
 
Metabolizable energy per kg = 22 . 8×− − N E Eexcreta diet  of feed 
 
where 
 
diet E  is the gross calories per g of feed (dry matter );  
 
excreta E  is the gross calories in excreta per g of the feed  (dry matter) consumed; and 
N is nitrogen retention in g per g of feed (dry matt er) consumed. This is obtained by subtracting total  
nitrogen excreted from the total nitrogen consumed per gram of the feed (dry matter).  
 
 
 
ICS 65.120                DMS 240:2017 
          First edition 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MALAWI BUREAU OF STANDARDS              CERTIFI CATION MARK SCHEME 
The Malawi Bureau of Standards is the 
standardizing body in Malawi under the aegis 
of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.  Set up 
in 1972 by the Malawi Bureau of Standards 
Act (Cap: 51:02), the Bureau is a parastatal 
body whose activities aim at formulating and 
promoting the general adoption of standards 
relating to structures, commodities, materials, 
practices, operations and from time to time 
revise, alter and amend the same to 
incorporate advanced technology. To bring the advantages of standardization 
within the reach of the common consumer, the 
Bureau operates a Certification Mark Scheme. 
Under this scheme, manufacturers who 
produce goods that conform to national 
standards are granted permits to use the 
Bureau’s “Mark of Quality” depicted below on 
their products.  This Mark gives confidence to 
the consumer of the commodity’s reliability