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. Triticale contains 98 to 100 percent of the energy in corn, and has almost twice the level of lysine found in corn. Corn can be replaced with grain sorghum pound for pound, but the diet will have slightly less energy and lysine. Barley, oats, and rye can also be included in swine diets, but the energy content of the diet will be lower.