Majority of people don’t know much about pigs. Now that pigs are making their way into the group of popular pets, more people are starting to wonder about them.
Can pigs eat meat? Yes, pigs can eat meat. Pigs are omnivorous animals and thus can eat both plants and other animals. They are not picky eaters and will eat almost anything that will be served to them.
Pigs in the wild have been observed to consume dead carcasses earning them a slot in the scavengers group of animals. This behavior is not observed in domesticated pigs as they are often fed with proper food and do not need to rely on another animal’s meat.
However, domestic pigs may feed on pork too if intentionally fed by their handlers. But still, just because they can eat anything doesn’t mean we should feed them literally just anything.
Even though pigs can eat meat, there is an existing restriction regarding this.
The easiest way for pigs to get sick or be infected by a disease is by consuming meat and possibly transmits the disease to nearby animals including humans.
This is how viral outbreaks of viruses happened in the past and why meat feeding for pigs should be discouraged and prohibited.
Again, pigs are not picky eaters. There is a wide range of choices of what you can feed your pig. For your safety and everyone else’s health too, do not feed meat to your pig.
This isn’t limited to just meat. Meat products and other products that have had contact with meat should be avoided too.
This also includes food scraps, bakery waste, waste from restaurants and untreated used cooking oils and fats.
Is this your first time hearing about the risk of feeding pigs with meat? There are a lot more surprising things about pigs we didn’t know about before and in this article, you’ll have the opportunity to read about them.
What to feed pigs
Just like people, pigs need a balanced and healthy diet in order to stay fit. This is an important reminder for pet pig owners because OBESITY is becoming one of the most common issues among pet pigs.
The best choice for pig feed is a real pig pellet which can be brought from poultry supply stores, pet stores and through the internet.
Pig pellets are usually made with the right vitamins and nutrients needed by an average pig. Feeding the right amount of pellets will give them the balanced diet that they need right away!
FAVORITE FOOD OF PIGS
Most pigs are said to love cooked broccoli, dark green lettuce, beets, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, melons, pitted peaches, pitted cherries, pitted apricots, cooked potatoes, all squashes, pumpkins, yams, zucchini, kale, tomatoes, chard, carrots, apples, snow peas, cucumbers and spinach.
DISLIKED FOODS OF PIGS
As pets, pigs will learn to be more comfortable in expressing their dislike for certain products or food. Here is the list of the known “disliked foods” by a majority of pigs.
Many pigs are said to dislike raw broccoli, eggplants, sprouts, peppers, asparagus, artichokes, cabbages, cauliflower, onion and corn husks.
Note that if your pigs like some of these foods, you don’t need to be alarmed. Some pigs may or may not like the food on this list but is still perfectly safe to consume.
KNOWN LIKED TREATS
We want to please our pigs and reward them with the right treats especially if we are training them. So what are the known treats loved by pigs? After researching, I managed to come up with this list!
- PBB Cheerios
- Baked Cheese Crisps
- Popcorn (think about watching a movie and sharing popcorn with your buddy!)
- Bite-Size Shredded Wheat
- Grapes
Source: https://potbelliedpigstlc.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/5-best-treats-for-pot-belly-pigs/
Perhaps you can rely on this list to house train your pig. I’m sure they will love at least some of it.
Stomach of Steel
Pigs have an outstanding immune system and a “stomach of steel” which means they can eat almost anything without getting sick from it.
This is what enables them to become non-picky eaters.
Because of this, they can also eat scrap food, leftovers, spoiled food, decomposing products, rotten food and even literal garbage.
This will have its own advantage and disadvantage which is why owning a pig requires the owner to “pig-proof” their homes to avoid pigs from eating what they’re not supposed to.
Pigs are prey animals and thus, developed an “opportunistic” mindset when it comes to accepting food. So long as they think it is edible, they will eat what’s in front of them.
Advantage — This will help keep them from dying off from starvation but..
Disadvantage — This will also possibly expose them dangerous diseases and can be very risky.
What to avoid feeding your pig (aside from meat)
AVOID LEFTOVERS OR SPOILED FOOD
Even when pigs are known to have a “stomach of steel” (meaning they can eat nearly anything and ingest them without getting sick or feeling sick), it’s still safer to stick to proper food.
We must not rely too much on their natural ability to tolerate any type of food. Just because they CAN eat anything, doesn’t mean we SHOULD feed them literally just anything.
What a pig consumes affects their growth, reproduction, health, behavior and their entire lifespan.
Please do not feed leftovers or spoiled food to your pig.
AVOID FEEDING PIGLETS WITH SEEDY FRUITS/FOODS
For adult or matured pigs, eating almost any kind of fruit is safe and won’t be a threat. However, young pigs or piglets might be put at risk when they swallow seeds.
It may not cause a critical condition, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
Don’t risk too much when it comes to health as anything can dangerous can turn fatal any moment.
There are incidents where piglets choked to death and some had a problem when the seed was large enough to hinder several body functions that resulted in various issues.
AVOID MUSHROOMS
Most pigs will instinctively know if a food is poisonous or not. However, it becomes a different story when the food is handed to them by their caretakers or trusted persons.
Since they are comfortable with anything their caretaker or trusted people will give them, they might not even think twice when eating the food that will be placed in front of them.
If you happen to see some mushrooms nearby and decided you want to give them to your pig as a treat, we highly advise you to avoid wild mushrooms as there are many kinds of poisonous mushrooms.
AVOID OTHER PET FOODS
There are reported cases of pig owners feeding pigs with dog food, cat food and other food not suitable for pigs.
Every living animal will have different body types, functions and needs.
This is why it’s highly recommended to feed your pig with the right and appropriate food to avoid getting sick!
Pigs will still eat the food and can survive even with the lack of proper nutrients, but can result with a weaker body and a less stable immune system.
Pigs also eat grass and insects
A normal pig will graze on grass, dig the ground to search for edible roots and “hunt” for non-poisonous insects.
Pigs will instinctively know what is dangerous for them to eat like poisonous mushrooms and will decided to avoid such things.
Letting your pig eat grass that had no contact with chemicals and search for food in grounds with fresh, natural soil is completely safe and okay.
This can also help you save a bit and hold off buying treats for the day as long as you let them graze long enough.
Want more details about what to feed your pig? You can read our article solely dedicated to pig feeding here.
Water needs and Drinking Habits
An average pig will drink 5 to 10 liters of water on a daily basis! Aside from knowing what to feed, it’s also important to know how much water they need.
Pregnant pigs or mothering pigs might require twice the average amount in order to produce enough nutrients for her litter (piglets) as well as enough milk.
Pigs have a hard time staying warm or cooling off because of their inability to sweat. They do have sweat glands, but it not as functional as it should be.
Most pigs also don’t have enough hair to help them with adjusting to temperatures!
This is why, giving your pig the right amount of water that your pigs need will keep them healthy.
RELATED QUESTIONS
- Is it legal to own and raise a pig?
The answer depends on where you live. Laws differ on every country especially regarding animal welfare. It’s highly recommended to check with your local officers to verify first before you adopt a pig.
If it requires a license, please register your pig for its safety and yours too. It might also come with various benefits, so it’s worth the cost.
We have a helpful guide on how to get a license for your pig. You may read that here.