Jeffrey Salazar
Pigs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant- and animal-based foods. Their diet depends on their breed, age, and environment, but typically consists of a mix of grains, vegetables, fruit, and protein. A pig's diet is carefully developed to meet its nutritional requirements, and it's important to ensure they are not overfed, as obesity is a common problem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet Type | Omnivorous |
| Diet Composition | Water, Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals |
| Commercial Feed | Formulated to meet the requirements of different types of pigs |
| Natural Diet | Roots, Veggies, Nuts, Seeds, Berries, Worms, Insects, Raw Eggs, Critters |
| Vegetables | Broccoli, Cauliflower, Lima Beans, Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, Peas, Edamame, Peppers, Zucchini, Lettuce |
| Fruits | Chayote, Banana, Winter Melon, Clover, Stylo |
| Protein Sources | Soybeans, Wheat Bran, Leucaena, Acacia, Ipil, Fishmeal, Soybean Meal, Blood Meal, Meat Meal |
| Energy Sources | Corn |
| Vitamins | Vitamin C, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin |
| Minerals | Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Sodium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc |
| Supplements | Salt, Limestone, Vitamins, Minerals |
| Water Temperature | Maximum 18-20°C |
| Water Intake | 3-6 gallons per day |
| Feeding Frequency | Larger meals twice a day with healthy snacks throughout the day |
| Weight Maintenance | Feed 2% of pig's current or ideal weight per day |
| Toxic Foods | Chocolate, Alcohol, Avocados, Ivy, Celery, Raw Sweet Potatoes, Raw Beans, Potato |
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What You'll Learn
Pigs are omnivores
Pigs require a high-energy diet that is low in fibre and contains sufficient protein. In addition, they need carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. The nutritional requirements are often simplified as a need for energy and protein. Specifically, the protein requirement is described as a lysine requirement. Lysine is an important amino acid that indicates the quality of protein in terms of the pig's needs.
The bulk of a pig's diet often comes from corn and soybeans. Corn provides energy, and soybeans are a good source of protein. Pigs also eat other grains, such as wheat, barley, lupins, and sorghum. Wheat bran, in particular, is widely used as a major component in animal feed. It contains 14-16% protein, a maximum of 9.5% fat, 8-10% crude fibre, and up to 25% carbohydrates.
Pigs can also be fed vegetables, fruits, and even kitchen scraps from a family's household. However, it is important to be cautious of certain foods that can be dangerous or toxic to pigs, such as raw sweet potatoes, celery, raw beans, and foods high in salt, sugar, or sodium.
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Commercially available food
Pigs are omnivores, so their natural diet in the wild would include a variety of foods. While it is not recommended to feed pet pigs exactly what they would find while foraging in the wild, there are commercially available foods that are formulated to meet their nutritional requirements.
The commercially available food for pigs is often in the form of pellets or chow and is designed to provide a complete and balanced diet. It is important to choose a reputable brand that offers formulations based on the pig's life stage, such as starter, grower, maintenance, or breeding/lactating. Some recommended brands include Mazuri®, Heartland, and Ross Mill Farm. These diets are typically high in protein and energy and may include ingredients such as wheat, barley, lupins, peas, canola meal, and triticale.
It is important to note that pigs have specific nutritional requirements that change throughout their lives. For example, young pigs require a diet higher in protein and energy than adult pigs. Additionally, certain breeds, such as Large White, Landrace, and Duroc, require more protein in their diet due to their faster growth rate.
While commercially available food forms the basis of a pig's diet, it can be supplemented with other foods in moderation. Fresh or frozen vegetables, such as celery, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, carrots, and leafy greens, are good options. However, it is important to avoid feeding pigs too much broccoli or cauliflower, as they can cause bloating and gas. Fruits, such as apples, grapes, and pears, can also be fed in moderation due to their high sugar content. It is crucial to de-pit fruits with stones, such as peaches and plums, to avoid airway blockages or intestinal issues.
It is recommended to provide pigs with fresh hay, such as timothy, orchard grass hay, or brome hay, to increase their dietary fibre intake. Pigs also benefit from access to fresh, untreated grass, as it increases both their fibre and water consumption.
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Fresh fruit and vegetables
Pigs can be fed a variety of fruits and vegetables, including melons, oranges, tangerines, pumpkin, spinach, cherries, kale, chard, peaches, peas, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, lima beans, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn, edamame, peppers, and zucchini. It is important to vary the vegetables in their diet so they receive a range of nutrients and do not get bored with their meals.
Some fruits and vegetables should only be fed to pigs when cooked, such as onions, avocado, rhubarb, celery, parsnips, and unripe tomatoes. Rotten or mouldy fruits and vegetables should be avoided. Additionally, certain foods and plants are toxic to pigs, including chocolate, alcohol, avocados, ivy, and a variety of other plants.
When introducing new fruits and vegetables to a pig's diet, it is important to do so gradually, starting with small pieces alongside their normal diet. It may take a couple of weeks for a pig to get used to a new food item. Fresh food should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place and washed thoroughly before feeding to the pigs to remove any pesticides or chemicals.
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Soybeans and other grains
Soybeans are a crop with high nutritional value and are very good for pig feeding. Soybeans are the gold standard of high-quality protein for pigs because their amino acid profile complements the amino acid profiles of several cereal grains. Soybeans contain 38% protein, which is very high, and should be dried, milled, or well cooked in combination with other feedstuffs like rice bran, broken rice, and maize. Soybean meal and other soybean products contain relatively high amounts of potassium, magnesium, and sulphur. Pigs fed diets containing soybean products and a cereal grain do not need additional supplements of these minerals in their diets.
Soybean meal is the most commonly used source of amino acids in pig diets around the world. Diets that contain a source of cereal grains, soybean meal, and microbial phytase will satisfy the needs for all amino acids, all the energy, and most of the phosphorus for growing and finishing pigs. Soybean products are excellent sources of protein for pigs because their amino acid profiles complement those of cereal grains. The SID tryptophan:lysine ratios for soy products range from 19.1 to 23.0 per cent, compared with the ideal ratio of 18.2 per cent. The concentration of crude protein and amino acids is greater in soybean meal than in full-fat soybeans. Enzyme treatment or fermentation increases the concentration of crude protein in soybean meal because of the removal of oligosaccharides.
Soybean meal can also satisfy the needs for all amino acids in diets fed to both gestating and lactating sows. In diets for weanling pigs, the concentration of conventional soybean meal should be less than 20 per cent to limit the inclusion of antigens and oligosaccharides. However, fermented soybean meal, enzyme-treated soybean meal, or soy protein concentrate can be included in these diets to satisfy the requirement for most of the additional amino acids.
Soy products are also a significant source of energy in pig diets, and soybean meal contains as much digestible and metabolisable energy as corn. Although soy is usually fed to pigs in the form of soybean meal, full-fat soybeans may be included in the diets to increase the energy density of the diet. Due to the high fibre content of soy hulls, the energy concentration in de-hulled soybean products is greater than in products containing hulls.
However, soybean is one of the most expensive and limiting feed ingredients in diet formulations. Its production is linked to several issues related to the environment, such as deforestation and water waste, as well as production and transportation costs, and ethical aspects. As a result, research is focusing on finding alternatives to replace soybean partially or totally.
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Weight management
The nutritional requirements of pigs are often simplified and described as a requirement for energy and protein. Pigs need a high-energy diet that is low in fibre and contains ample protein. The protein requirement is described as a lysine requirement. Lysine is an important amino acid that indicates the quality of protein in terms of the pig's needs. A pig's diet should also include carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins.
The amount of food a pig needs to eat per day is based on its current weight. The American Mini Pigs Association recommends feeding a pig 2% of its current or ideal weight per day. As a pig's weight increases, so do its dietary needs. For example, piglets require a diet higher in protein and energy than adult pigs. Similarly, fast-growing breeds require more protein in their diet than breeds that do not grow as fast. Pigs in cold or hot environments will also use more energy to stay warm or cool, so their diet should contain higher levels of energy to maintain growth.
To avoid overfeeding, it is important to adjust the amount of commercial feed given to a pig if its diet is supplemented with other foods, such as fresh salads and green vegetables. It is recommended that pigs are fed larger meals twice a day and healthy snacks throughout the day.
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Frequently asked questions
A pig's diet should be high in energy and low in fibre, and contain sufficient protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins. Pigs are omnivores, so in the wild, their diet would include roots, veggies, nuts, seeds, berries, worms, insects, raw eggs, and small animals. Domesticated pigs are often fed soybean, wheat bran, corn, and other grains.
Pigs cannot eat foods that are high in sugars, salts, and calories. Certain raw beans, celery, raw sweet potatoes, and potatoes are dangerous for pigs. Foods that are toxic to pigs include chocolate, alcohol, avocados, ivy, and a large variety of other plants.
It is ideal to feed pet pigs larger meals twice a day and healthy snacks throughout the day. Safe vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, lima beans, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, edamame, peppers, and zucchini.
