Date: 04/09/2026

Choosing ingredients for feed formulation calls for a broader analysis than comparing price per kilogram. Amino acid profile, palatability, microbiological safety, and consistency of composition all affect intake, weight gain, and feed conversion. When these variables are left out of the calculation, the nutritional composition projected for a balanced diet may not deliver the expected performance in practice, due to differences in ingredient quality and utilization.

Cost per performance offers a more complete benchmark: it relates feed investment to the results obtained, such as kilograms of live weight, liters of milk, fillet yield, or the amount of feed consumed per unit produced.

In this article, you will find:

What are the steps for feed formulation?

The Practical Manual for Dairy Cattle Feed Formulation, published by Embrapa (Brazil's agricultural research corporation), summarizes the process in three moves: estimating the animal's requirements, calculating the nutrients supplied by the feeds, and finding a combination that meets those needs at the lowest cost. In an industrial operation, this path unfolds into the following steps:

  • ● Define nutritional requirements. Consider species, genetics, age, weight, physiological condition, environment, and production goal.
  • ● Select the ingredients. Compare composition, availability, inclusion limits, sanitary quality, processing, and species-specific dietary restrictions.
  • ● Balance the nutrition. Adjust metabolizable energy, protein profile, fiber, vitamins, and minerals according to the established requirements.
  • ● Assess digestibility and availability. Use metabolizable values to estimate how much of each nutrient will be accessible to the animal's system.
  • ● Analyze cost per performance. Relate the diet's total cost to the production indicators set for the operation.
  • ● Validate and adjust the formulation. Confirm intake, conversion, weight gain, health, and final product quality under conditions representative of actual use.

Raw-material selection runs through every one of these decisions. If the nutritional matrix doesn't reflect the ingredient actually received by the plant, the error propagates through the balancing, the economic calculation, and the results of the batch.

What are the main ingredients for feed formulation?

Combinations vary by species, life stage, and production system. Feed Formulation and Manufacturing, from the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), brings together grains, meals, animal-origin sources, minerals, oils, and additives among the raw materials used in diets for poultry, swine, and fish. These components can be organized by function.

  • ● Protein sources: animal meals, plant meals, and hydrolyzed proteins supply nitrogen and amino acids for tissue formation and renewal.
  • ● Energy sources: grains, oils, and fats provide the carbohydrates and lipids used for maintenance, growth, and production.
  • ● Vitamins and minerals: involved in metabolism, bone formation, electrolyte balance, immunity, and other physiological functions.
  • ● Amino acids: lysine, methionine, threonine, and other amino acid ingredients or supplements correct specific gaps in the protein profile.
  • ● Functional ingredients: hydrolyzed proteins, bioactive peptides, and palatants add functions related to nutrient utilization, physiological response, and diet acceptance.
  • ● Nutritional and other additives: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics, antioxidants, and preservatives supplement nutrients or perform specific functions in the feed.

Functional classification doesn't replace raw-material analysis. Crude protein content, for example, doesn't by itself indicate which amino acids are present or how much will be absorbed. It is also necessary to check species-specific authorizations and restrictions: Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) maintains the list of ingredients and additives authorized for animal feed, with labeling guarantees and usage limits.

Why does ingredient choice matter in feed formulation?v

A technical bulletin published by Embrapa in 2024 reports that feed can account for up to 80% of total cost in the growing and finishing phases of swine production. The figure applies to a specific scope, but it shows the weight diet carries in the economic outcome.

An inadequate selection undermines the nutritional calculation and increases the cost of every unit produced. Raw-material quality and suitability affect six nutritional, physiological, and production dimensions:

  • ● Feed efficiency. Nutrient concentration and availability determine how much of the diet supports maintenance and production.
  • ● Digestibility. More digestible ingredients raise the absorbed share and reduce the volume of unused nutrients.
  • ● Weight gain. Available energy, protein, and amino acids need to keep pace with each stage's growth demands.
  • ● Gut health. Composition, processing, and sanitary quality affect the gastrointestinal environment. A 2024 study in laying hens, part of the research into the gut microbiome in production animals, linked differences in cecal microbiota to feed efficiency, in a diet-dependent relationship.
  • ● Feed conversion. Quality variations change how much feed is needed to achieve a given production gain.
  • ● Production performance. Intake, growth, reproduction, yield, and final product quality reflect the combination of diet, management, and health status.

What to evaluate when choosing ingredients for feed formulation?

The checklist should bring together nutritional, sanitary, and operational criteria. All of them affect the diet's outcome, though the weight of each item shifts with the species and the purpose of the formulation. Before approving an ingredient, check the following points:

  • ● Digestibility. Check species- and stage-specific studies. Assessing animal digestibility estimates the fraction of the nutrient potentially available to the animal, according to the method used.
  • ● Nutritional quality. Compare analyzed levels of energy, protein, fat, fiber, minerals, and other relevant components.
  • ● Amino acid profile. Look at concentration, balance, and digestibility, rather than relying only on crude protein content.
  • ● Palatability. Confirm acceptance and intake, especially in critical stages, therapeutic diets, aquaculture, and pet food.
  • ● Microbiological safety. Set limits for pathogens and indicator microorganisms. Mycotoxins and other contaminants require specific controls.
  • ● Traceability. Check origin, processing, batch identification, and the records needed to investigate deviations.
  • ● Raw-material consistency. Track batch-to-batch variation and adherence to the values registered in the formulation matrix.

How to cut feed formulation costs without compromising performance?

The lowest purchase price doesn't guarantee the lowest production cost. Cost per performance means comparing total diet spend to a measurable outcome: cost per kilogram of gain, per liter of milk, per kilogram of fillet, or another unit consistent with the system. The calculation should factor in intake, conversion, mortality, yield, and any losses, depending on the objective.

A more expensive ingredient per kilogram can deliver a higher return when it supplies a greater concentration of usable nutrients, reduces the amount needed, or shows less variation. That advantage isn't automatic. It needs to be demonstrated through a reliable nutritional matrix, digestibility trials, formulation testing, and monitoring of production indicators.

The return on the additional investment in a higher-quality diet can be calculated from the savings generated by improved performance and any additional revenue generated: Incremental ROI = (savings from performance + additional revenue − additional diet cost) ÷ additional diet cost × 100

Consider a hypothetical example:

  • ● Feed A: costs R$2.00 per kilogram and has a feed conversion ratio of 2.0. It takes 2 kilograms of feed for every kilogram of gain, at a cost of R$4.00 per kilogram produced;
  • ● Feed B: costs R$2.20 per kilogram and has a feed conversion ratio of 1.7. The cost per kilogram of gain drops to R$3.74.

Although Feed B is 10% more expensive per kilogram, the better utilization cuts feed cost per kilogram of gain by 6.5%. If the formulation also raises final weight, batch uniformity, or carcass or fillet yield, revenue could increase as well. That gain, however, should only enter the calculation once those attributes are actually rewarded by the market.

To balance cost and results, consider these measures:

  • ● Prioritize highly digestible ingredients;
  • ● Consider standardization across batches;
  • ● Evaluate the nutritional quality of the raw material;
  • ● Reduce waste in the formulation;
  • ● Choose animal nutrition suppliers with traceability and technical support.

The goal is to reduce the cost of the unit produced while still meeting nutritional requirements. Cuts that worsen intake or conversion just shift the expense to another stage of production.

How does MBRF Ingredients support high-performance formulations?

MBRF Ingredients' Animal Nutrition portfolio brings together functional and nutritional ingredients for aquaculture, swine production, and pet food. Its experience with feed and food ingredients is tied to making the most of raw materials from the agricultural supply chain and to developing applications specific to each market.

The fully integrated production chain supports traceability, the processing of fresh raw materials, and the standardization of operations. The portfolio also tracks animal nutrition trends related to precision nutrition, functional ingredients, palatability, and the use of co-products.

BioActio Hydrolyzed Proteins

BioActio Hydrolyzed Proteins are produced through enzymatic hydrolysis, a process that breaks down protein chains and generates lower-molecular-weight peptides. The line includes BioActio Health & Performance, a chicken protein hydrolysate for aquaculture, swine production, and pet food; BioActio Health & Palatability, a chicken liver protein hydrolysate for dogs and cats; and BioActio Efficiency, an enzymatic feather hydrolysate for aquaculture and swine production.

Animal Meals

Animal Meals are obtained by cooking, pressing, and grinding poultry, swine, or cattle raw materials. The portfolio brings together protein and mineral sources with specifications geared toward pet food, aquaculture, swine production, and other non-ruminant formulations. Selection should factor in composition, digestibility, mineral matter, target species, and regulatory restrictions.

Animal Oils and Fats

Animal Fats serve as concentrated sources of energy and fatty acids, and also affect palatability. Poultry oil, swine fat, swine grease, and beef tallow serve specific applications. Fatty acid profile, oxidative stability, freshness (linked to product acidity), and storage conditions are all part of the technical evaluation.

B.FreshFy Palatants

The B.FreshFy line brings together liquid palatants for use in extruded feeds and dog treats. The ingredient should be evaluated through acceptance panels and comparative testing, based on the diet's base, the processing, and the application level.

Across all lines, specification and concentration need to match the species, the production stage, and the purpose of the diet. Results also depend on the complete formulation, management conditions, and other factors in the production system.

Ingredients for feed formulation: performance starts with the right choice

A consistent formulation depends on ingredients that deliver the nutrients registered in the matrix and hold that standard from batch to batch. Digestibility, amino acid profile, safety, palatability, and functionality determine how much of the diet will be consumed, absorbed, and converted into production results.

Decisions based on cost per performance broaden the economic analysis. Rather than stopping the comparison at price per kilogram, they factor in intake, conversion, weight gain, yield, and predictability. The higher-quality ingredient won't necessarily be the more expensive option, just as the lowest price alone doesn't represent savings.

Supplier choice completes this evaluation. Known origin, controlled processes, raw-material consistency, and technical support provide a more solid foundation for qualification, testing, and diet adjustments.

Explore MBRF Ingredients' Animal Nutrition solutions and discover ingredients developed to expand nutritional utilization and animal performance.

Frequently asked questions about ingredients for feed formulation

What should be evaluated when choosing ingredients for animal nutrition?

Check digestibility, nutritional composition, amino acid profile, palatability, microbiological safety, traceability, and batch-to-batch consistency. Criteria should be assessed according to the species, the production stage, the process, and the diet's objective.

How does digestibility influence animal performance?

Digestibility estimates how much of a nutrient is not recovered in the feces, excreta, or the collection point defined by the method, indicating its potential for utilization. The greater that utilization, the smaller the eliminated fraction tends to be. But the production outcome also depends on intake, diet balance, health, management, and environment.

How to choose suppliers of ingredients for feed formulation?

Review specifications, raw-material origin, sanitary controls, traceability, variation history, supply capacity, and technical support. Before qualification, confirm the documented data with lab analyses and application testing.

Why does ingredient quality impact feed conversion?

Composition, digestibility, and palatability change how much the animal consumes and utilizes from the diet. When the raw material delivers fewer nutrients than the registered value or varies from batch to batch, more feed may be needed to achieve the same result.

What ingredients go into dog food?

Complete diets for dogs typically combine protein sources, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and authorized additives. The exact amounts depend on life stage, activity level, and energy profile; the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines, from the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), are a technical reference for manufacturers. Formulation should be carried out by a qualified professional and comply with Brazilian animal feed legislation.