In this article, we are going to briefly uncover all you need to know about what do pigs eat?, Their favorite foods, how pigs find food and how they eat and digest, and what can pigs not eat.
What Do Pigs Like To Eat?
There is a stereotype about pigs eating just anything you put in front of them, whether poor or quality foods.
But if you have ever trained a pet pig, you will realize that most pigs are very picky and do not eat anything that do not look applealing and appetizing to them.
Pigs are omnivores animals that do require you feed them a well balanced diet.
Pigs have have the tendency of seeking out only foods they like and ignoring foods that they don't like.
How Do Pigs Find And Consume Foods?
In the Query of pigs sorting for food, this those not apply to domesticated pet pigs, pet pigs do not worry sorting out food, because they have someone caring about their needs.
Unlike wild pigs that do sort out their own food by relying on their sense to forage for food in the wild, while avoiding predators.
Pigs have a great sense of smell and hearing, they often use their snouts to sort around and look for food.
Although pigs do have a short-range vision and finds it hard to differentiate colors, but their sense of smell and hearing is top-notch, and will raise their heads up upon hearing a noise that interests them.
What are pigs Digestive system like?
Pigs only have one stomach just like humans, and eat all sort of different dishes, their digestive system are similar to that of humans.
An Adult pigs teeth is about 44 including their incisors, canines, premolars and molars just like humans.
They have small teeth that are coated with enamel, which prevents tooth decay, they can tire down foods with their teeth and use their molars to grind and chew.
If the the quantity is small, a pig will not bother chewing, but instantly swallow it down to it's esophagus and into their stomach.
They have a digestive enzyme which helps break down food and move it to the small intestine. Any leftover is excreted as waste.
What Do Pigs Eat in the Wild?
It is more easy to find Wild pigs in the forests, Savannahs, grasslands, scrublands and wetlands on every continent except Antarctica.
Wild pigs do not have any special variety of foods as they eat just anything they find suitable such as
- Roots
- Grasses
- Leaves
- Grains
They spend their time rooting for food and also consume large amount of
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Fungi
- Mushrooms etc.
They also like eating;
- Worms
- Insects
- Larvae
This is a good source of protein for them. Wild pigs also eat small mammals and eggs of other animals.
They Consume small mammals like;
- Rats
- Rabbits
- Mice
- Hares
- Young deers
- Snakes etc.
What Do Domestic Pigs Eat?
Domestic Pigs do not really bother about what to eat unlike wild pigs that do root out food for themselves.
Domestic Pigs eat foods with enough diet containing different grains and cereals. In-taking these meals helps them add weight faster.
Common Meals Domestic Pigs Eat?
- Soyabean
- Corn
- Barley
- Wheat
These foods are normally given to farm based (raised) pigs, unlike pigs that are raised at home as pets that do have availability to fruits and vegetables as well as insects, fungi and nutritious snacks.
Bothered about foods you can feed your pet pigs?
Foods That You Can Feed Your Pet Pig
- Broccoli
- Melons
- Berries
- Bananas
- Apples (without seeds)
- Flowers
- Squash
- Pumpkin
- Potatoes
- Turnips
- Eggplant
- Cauliflower
- Leafy greens
- Radishes
You can also feed them
- Unsalted nuts
- Yogurt
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Oats
- Unsalted seeds.
What can pigs not eat?
Do not feed pigs
- Meat
- Fish
- Oils (if not vegetables)
- Juice
- Salt
- Chocolate
- Flaxseed
- Raw beans
- Raw cashews
- Fruit seeds
- Pits
- Moldy foods and acorns.
What Do Baby Pigs Eat?
Baby piglets can weigh between 2 to 3 pounds and they totally rely on their mother food food.
Piglets are birthed around 114 days of incubation. Baby pigs can start eating foods that are solid when they are about 1 to 2 weeks old.
If you find yourself neutering piglets all by yourself, you can feed them with a milk replacer, or you can feed them with goat milk.
You can mix pellet pig Food with the milk and feed them along with solid food like vegetables.
At 9th week, baby Pigs can fully be able to eat same food as an adult pig.
What Are Pigs Favorite Food?
Some pigs do like eating foods like:
- Cooked Broccoli
- Snow peas
- Oranges
- Grapefruit (Which is considered Harmful to dogs)
- Melons
- Dark green lettuce
- Pitted apricots
- Beets
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- All squashes, zucchini
- Berries
- Pears and Apple's
- Spinach
- Yams
- Chard
- Cooked potatoes
- Pitted peaches
- Cucumbers
What Do Most Pigs Hate To Eat?
- Cabbage
- Onions
- Fresh fruits
- Uncooked pasta
- Unsalted popcorn
- Unsalted peanuts
- Corn husks
What food makes pigs grow Faster?
You can feed your pig grain mix of barley, sorghum, wheat and corn for your pigs.
You can also mix yellow corn to it, this is a primary source of energy for pigs.
Can Pigs Eat Raw Maize?
Pigs do eat both meat and plants which makes them omnivores. It is totally safe to feed them some corns.
But don't feed them corns with salt or butter, this is unhealthy for a pig.
Do Pigs Eat Raw Beans?
Giving your pig raw beans to eat is not advisable and it's not healthy for your pet pig, as this can cause a decrease in a Pigs performance.
Can Pigs Eat Raw Rice?
Rice (grinded rice) can be used in absence of corn in pigs diet, and as such posses no negative effects in a Pigs growth and production.
Can You Feed Raw eggs to pigs?
Eggs can be considered high in biotin, which is an important vitamin in pigs. Too much of it can cause deficiency like dermatitis and hoof issues.
Do Pigs Drink Alot of Water ?
You can give your pig water daily, about 0.5 gallon per pig daily, for weaned pigs, you can give them 1.5 gallon per pig daily.
How Many Days a Pig can stay without Water?
The maximum days a pig can stay without Water is 48 hours.
Is salt Bad for Pigs?
Depriving your pig water can cause salt poisoning or too much of salty substances that you feed your pig.
Can I add sugar to Pigs feeds?
Yes you can, sugar and starches can be used as a source of energy for pigs, substances like glucose and lactose are great sources of energy, but too much of this can cause diarrhea in pigs.
Why do you need salt in pig feed?
Young pigs do need sodium to grow but you should only feed them 0.25% salt, as salt is a good source of sodium.
What Happens when a Pig Eats too much Salt?
This can cause Blindness in pigs, deafness, aimlessly wandering about and head pressing.
What Food is Poisonous to Pigs?
- Acorns
- Ragwort
- Foxglove
- Hemlock
- Bracken
- Ivy
- Cocklebur
- Henbane etc.
How Long Can Pigs Go Without Food?
Pigs need to be fed between 4 to 8 times a day, leaving your pig 24 hours without food can stop their growth.
If you are having a hard time being capable of handling the needs of your pig, or you want to adopt a pet pig.
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Facts About Pigs
- Pigs always wag their tails when they are happy.
- Pigs can raise an alarm whenever they are scared.
- They keep where they sleep clean and always go out to excrete or toilet. Making them one of the most neatest farm animals.
- Pigs are a very loyal companion.
- Pigs are more frisky, social and friendly, and also full of energy during spring.
Related post: How Long Do Pigs live?
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