Energy is species-specific
An ingredient has no single energy value. Poultry metabolisable energy, swine net energy and ruminant digestible energy are different systems with different assumptions. Quoting one number across species is a formulation error, not a specification shortcut.
Matrix values are estimates with variance
Published energy tables represent population averages. Real cargo varies with origin, harvest year, processing intensity and residual oil. Buyers who formulate close to the constraint should either build in a safety margin or verify energy-relevant parameters shipment by shipment.
Typical industrial reference values
| Corn (poultry ME) | 3,250–3,350 kcal/kg | |
| Soybean meal 46 (poultry ME) | 2,150–2,300 kcal/kg | |
| Wheat (poultry ME) | 3,000–3,150 kcal/kg | Variable with viscosity and NSP |
| Vegetable oil (poultry ME) | 8,500–9,000 kcal/kg |
Indicative industry reference values for orientation only — always contract against the delivered lot.
What to verify
- —Which energy system and species the quoted value refers to
- —Residual oil, starch and fibre values that drive the calculation
- —Whether the value came from a published table, a supplier claim or a measured assay
Typical risks
- —Diet energy drifting below target across a production cycle
- —Cost per unit of energy being misjudged between origins
Common mistakes
- —Comparing a poultry ME value against a swine NE value
- —Accepting supplier energy claims without the underlying composition data
Frequently asked questions
Can energy be tested on arrival?
Not directly in routine trade. Energy is predicted from measured composition — oil, starch, fibre, protein and ash — using species-specific equations, or determined in animal trials, which is outside normal cargo verification.
Related topics
Fat content sets the energy density of an ingredient and, together with fatty-acid profile and oxidation status, determines both nutritional value and storage stability.
Digestibility expresses the proportion of a nutrient the animal can actually absorb; it converts an analytical composition into a nutritional value.
Crude fibre is a legacy proximate measure of indigestible plant structure; NDF, ADF and total dietary fibre describe the same material more precisely and are what modern formulation uses.
Build a structured RFQ with the parameters, tolerances and verification steps written in — free for buyers.
Start your RFQFor commercial farm feed buyers
Buying feed specified on energy values (me, ne, de) for a commercial farm
- Best for
- Commercial farms, integrators, distributors and feed buyers sourcing feed specified on energy values (me, ne, de) and related feed, additives or nutrition supply on a recurring commercial scale — not pet food, hobby farms or backyard quantities.
- Animal species covered
- Broilers and layers, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, tilapia, salmon and shrimp, plus sheep and goats on request.
- Typical feed buyer needs
- A written specification, verified suppliers who can hold that specification, comparable pricing on the same delivery terms, documented quality (CoA, certifications) and a supply schedule that matches production.
- Bulk feed and recurring supply
- Most requests are bulk or big-bag volumes on monthly or quarterly contracts. Volume per delivery, storage capacity on farm and contract length change price more than the headline per-tonne quote.
- Feed additives and premix
- Premix, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, toxin binders and other additives can be quoted alongside compound feed or ingredients so one supplier comparison covers the whole ration.
- What affects feed cost
- Raw-material origin and specification, inclusion rates, freight and Incoterms, packaging, order volume, payment terms, currency and certification requirements. Landed cost, not ex-works price, decides the winner.
- RFQ checklist
- Species and production stage, tonnes per month, target specification, delivery port or farm location, packaging, required certifications, first delivery date and contract duration.
- Supplier matching process
- You define the requirement, FeedMatch structures the RFQ, sends it to relevant qualified suppliers, and returns comparable offers side by side so you can negotiate on equal terms.
- Buyer is not charged
- Farm buyers are not charged to submit a requirement, receive matched suppliers or compare quotes.
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.
Technical parameter names and analytical method references are kept in English because they are quoted verbatim in contracts, certificates and international standards.
Educational reference. FeedMatch Group does not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers.
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