I've wrestled with the question of feeding for the two years I've raised my own pigs. Commercially mixed swine feed here does not have steroids or antibiotics and in summer it is $5.98/ 50 pounds. In winter it is $6.48 / 50 pounds. Commercial breeds like the York, Hamp, Duroc, etc. eat 5 lbs per day for most of their growing out. That means growing one to the market range of 230-250 pounds will cost about $100 if you start with a 60 lb. pig. The benefits of growing your own pork goes beyond and far above actual cost. I don't think many people can raise and process their own pork for less than the supermarket price. It is the satisfaction of knowing the animal was humanely raised, properly fed, healthy w/o drugs, and led a vitually stress free life that keeps me raising my own pigs (plus I really love working with them). We butcher our own, package in vacuum-packed bags, and freeze the meat so we are probably paying twice as much for the satisfaction and hard work. Back to the cost question- it has been discussed on this board that people feed just about anything to their pigs if it is cheap or free. I prefer the commercially mixed ration because it is formulated specifically for pigs. Growing pigs need about 18% protein, corn has only 8.5% protein. The balance of the protein has to be found somewhere, which means you will have to spend time looking for and mixing the feed. Nutritional problems can and do come up which will add to the growing out time, labor, and expense, if the nutritional needs of the pig are not met. I've investigated cheaper ways to provide the optimum nutrition that keeps my pigs healthy and grows them efficiently. I've yet to come across anything that would save me more than $50 a year without adding to my work and time load, already in short supply. I purchase about 350 pounds a week when I don't have piglets, pour the 50 lb. bags into large recycle containers, and don't have to worry about mixing or spoilage. In turn my pigs are lean, muscled, healthy and problem free. I feed meat free kitchen scraps when I have them as treats. I don't see how it can get better.