Swine

Mule City Specialty Feeds builds its swine products around practical nutrition, batch consistency, and Southeast-specific needs—not just formulas pulled from national templates. Our feeds are designed to perform well in real-world conditions, whether you’re raising pigs for show, breeding, or finishing for market.ur

What makes our swine feeds different:

• In-house mixing and batching: All of our swine feeds—like First Sow & Pig, First Show Pig, and First Top Hog—are made right here at our mill in Benson, NC. We don’t outsource our mixing or packaging, which means tighter control over quality and ingredients.

• Feeds built for performance and palatability: We include ingredients like molasses, flaxseed, whey, probiotics, and vegetable oils to support appetite, gut health, and visible conditioning. Whether you’re managing weaning transitions or prepping for the show ring, we formulate for results, not filler.

• Nutrition backed by experience: We’ve been feeding pigs in the Southeast for decades. We know what works for the climate, the forage, and the expectations of local breeders, show families, and small farms.

• Custom options available: If your pigs need something a little different—more energy, less fat, added probiotics—we can tweak your blend to match.

Whether you’re feeding a barn full of piglets or finishing out a couple of 4-H prospects, our goal is the same: build feed that fuels steady gain, good structure, and strong gut health.

Just call us at 919-894-3626 or contact us online. Let’s build a feed plan that works for your pigs, your farm, and your goals.

Mule City swine feeds—especially First Sow & Pig and First Show Pig—are carefully formulated to support piglets during one of the most vulnerable phases of their development: weaning and early post-weaning growth. 

These feeds are designed to be easy to digest, nutrient-dense, and supportive of immune health, which is critical when piglets are transitioning off milk and adjusting to solid feed.

Here’s how our feeds help:

• Fermentation extracts and probiotics: Both First Sow & Pig and First Show Pig contain ingredients like Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, and Aspergillus oryzae fermentation products. These beneficial microbes promote gut stability, aid in digestion, and help the piglet’s gut fend off harmful bacteria—reducing the risk of scours and improving nutrient uptake.

• Highly digestible ingredients: We use dried whey, lactose, soybean oil, and flaxseed in First Show Pig to mirror the energy profile of sow’s milk. These ingredients are easier on the gut and provide clean, readily available energy that piglets can use for growth and immune defense.

• Chelated trace minerals and vitamin support: Nutrients like zinc, copper, selenium, and vitamins A, D3, and E are included in bioavailable forms that strengthen immunity, support tissue development, and encourage strong appetite.

• Balanced amino acids: L-lysine, DL-methionine, and L-threonine are added to match what young pigs need for lean muscle growth and immune system development during a time of stress and rapid change.

Weaning is a high-stress, high-risk time. That’s why our piglet-focused feeds are built to ease the transition, fuel growth without digestive backlash, and set your animals up for stronger performance from the very beginning. 

Whether you’re raising a barn full of commercial pigs or just a few high-value show prospects, the goal is the same: a strong gut leads to a stronger pig. And that’s what we feed for.

Just call us at 919-894-3626 or contact us online. We’ll help you take the guesswork out of nutrition and get real results in the pen.

Mule City Specialty Feeds offers blends that are effective for both commercial production and show pig development, but we do recommend tailoring your feeding program based on your goals. 

Our lineup includes feeds built to support general herd health as well as high-performance formulations for pigs headed to the show ring.

For example:

• First Sow & Pig is a balanced feed ideal for both commercial sows and their litters. It provides steady energy, digestible protein, and the right vitamin-mineral blend for reproductive health and early piglet growth. It’s a great fit for farm operations focused on efficient weaning, healthy starts, and uniform gains.

• First Show Pig, on the other hand, is engineered with higher protein (18%) and fat (7%), along with added flaxseed, lactose, dried whey, and multiple probiotics. This feed supports muscle development, skin and coat condition, and energy levels—qualities that matter in the show ring. It’s ideal for getting pigs to bloom early and maintain show-ready structure and conditioning.

That said, many producers start with First Show Pig for early conditioning and then gradually transition to a blend like First Top Hog or First Sow & Pig depending on growth rate, budget, and show schedule. Some even mix show feed 50/50 with maintenance feed to control weight gain and keep pigs on track for target classes.

So yes—you can use Mule City blends across both commercial and show programs, but feed choice and timing should reflect your finish goals. 

Need help dialing in a custom feeding schedule or mixing strategy? 

Just call us at 919-894-3626 or contact us online. We’ve worked with both small family farms and youth show programs across North Carolina and the Southeast.

Yes, Mule City Specialty Feeds includes added copper in its swine blends, particularly in rations like First Show Pig, First Sow & Pig, and First Top Hog. 

Copper is a well-established performance enhancer in swine diets—when provided at elevated levels, it can improve feed efficiency, average daily gain, and gut health, especially in growing pigs.

While exact ppm (parts per million) levels aren’t published on the product labels, the inclusion of copper sulfate and copper amino acid complexes suggests these feeds are formulated to meet or exceed the typical recommended performance range, which is often 125–250 ppm in grower diets. 

This level of copper promotes:

• Enhanced feed conversion
• Reduced harmful gut bacteria
• Increased muscle gain, especially in young or show pigs

For example, First Show Pig contains copper sulfate, copper proteinate, and copper amino acid complexes—highly bioavailable forms that support muscle development and digestive health. These are common in feeds aimed at getting pigs show-ready with visible muscle shape and condition.

That said, these levels are not safe for sheep or non-target species, and Mule City clearly labels all such feeds with a caution against cross-species use.

If you’re managing pigs in a performance setting—or trying to avoid antibiotics while still supporting growth—feeds with elevated copper levels offer a natural, proven tool for boosting gain and gut function. 

And with Mule City’s, you’ll get those levels consistently, batch after batch.

Just call us at 919-894-3626 or contact us online. Whether you’re raising show pigs or market hogs, we’ve got the right blend for you.

Yes—custom blending is a core part of what we do at Mule City Specialty Feeds. 

Whether you’re managing heritage breeds on pasture, high-performance show pigs, or commercial hogs finishing on a specific timeline, we can formulate a swine ration that fits your genetics, forage availability, and production goals.

Our team can customize feeds to support:

• Specific growth targets (e.g., slow gain for show pigs or fast finish for market hogs)
• Forage-based or pasture-raised systems, where you may need to balance out seasonal roughage with added energy or minerals
• Unique breed needs (such as Berkshire, Duroc, or hybrid lines) that may require different protein levels, amino acid balances, or fat content
• Transition phases, like creep feeding, post-weaning, or flushing sows before breeding

We offer flexibility in ingredient choices—including adjustments in protein, fat, fiber, copper levels, probiotics, and even palatability enhancers—depending on what you’re working with in your barn or field. 

For example, if you’re concerned about show pig softness or skin condition, we can add flaxseed, vegetable oils, or yeast cultures to support lean shape and shine.

Because we mix everything on-site in Benson, NC, you get quick turnaround, batch-to-batch consistency, and a feed that’s actually designed for your pigs..

To get started, just let us know your pig’s age, breed, weight, environment, and feeding goals—and we’ll help you build the blend. 

Just call us at 919-894-3626 or contact us online. We’re here to help you feed smarter, with feed that works the way you need it to.