The requirements in Table 1 and Table 2 are based on diets containing corn. However, other grains can be part of an economical feeding program. Corn is an excellent source of energy, but it also supplies up to 50 percent of the protein and 30 percent of the lysine in swine diets. Corn contains low levels of calcium and trace minerals, but it can provide 40 percent of the total phosphorus in swine diets. This figure can be misleading, however.
Phytic acid binds two-thirds or more of the phosphorus from plant sources.
As little as 20 percent of this phosphorus is available for use by the pig. Wheat, grain sorghum , and some varieties of triticale can replace corn with little or no effect on swine performance. Wheat is equal to corn in energy and contains more protein and lysine than corn. Bird-resistant grain sorghum contains 85 to 95 percent of the energy found in corn. Both contain higher levels of protein, but slightly lower levels of lysine.