Without a doubt, the pig is one of the animals that culture and popular sayings have treated unfairly and pejoratively, since, contrary to what many people may believe, pigs they are animals very intelligent, affectionate and clean Now, there is a fairly accurate statement regarding the feeding of these animals:farm pigs eat everything , and this is because the human being has turned them into omnivorous animals, in the same way that we do.
However, this does not mean that they should eat everything, not unless we want to ensure their he alth. And the fact is that, in reality, in nature pigs are herbivorous, as we will explain later. And it is for this reason that in this article on our site we want to explain what pigs eat, so that you can learn and provide the best care for your pig friend, in case, of course, that you have one of these animals in your care.
Feeding the pigs
As we have mentioned, human beings have turned farm pigs into omnivorous animals with the aim of fattening them for later consumption. However, the food preferences of this species are not those, since the pig in the wild is fully herbivorous, as we can see in its jaw prepared to eat vegetables, such as fruit and vegetables, as well as mushrooms or even roots.
However, due to its domestication and the interest that human beings have had in its consumption, as well as as a consequence of fattening quickly, the diet of farm pigs has been adapted to an omnivore in which the presence of vegetables and organic remains prevails, but alsominced meat It should be noted, however, that this type of food is not intended for the animal to enjoy a long and he althy life, since the fact that it can digest it, it does not imply that in the long term you cannot develop he alth problems such as obesity.
What to feed a pig?
If we are lucky enough to have a pig as a pet, we must make sure to provide it with a good diet, which will be made up of:
- Fruit and vegetables: your pig's diet should be made up of approximately 70% fruit and vegetables of all kinds.
- Grains/cereals: such as corn, rice, barley, quinoa… which will provide your pet with energy, but can lead to obesity if they are abused.
- Forage: It's also a good idea to feed alfalfa or hay if your pig likes it, to give it an extra supply of fiber.
Therefore, those foods that are made with the ingredients you have seen are also valid, as long as they are not given in excess.
Also, as a general rule, when deciding whether or not a food will be good for your animal, you should bear in mind that any food that is not good for you, neither will it be for your pig In the same way, eating too much of a single thing, such as bread or pasta, is not a way to establish a he althy and balanced diet for both him and her. you.
Finally, you should divide the diet into 2 or 3 daily servings and be very clear about meal times, since Pigs are very gluttonous animals and they need to get used to a routine. On the contrary, they could develop anxiety as there is no consistency in the schedule, which will cause behavioral problems resulting from stress, and short or long-term he alth problems.
And if you enjoy the company of a Vietnamese pig, we advise you to read this other article on Vietnamese pig feeding.
Prohibited foods for the pig
Because the pig is not a popular animal as a pet, it is difficult to find feed specially designed for them to have long and quality lives. In fact, the most common is to find feed designed for intensive pig farming, which is intended to fatten the animal for consumption as soon as possible. This means that you should never give feed for farm pigs, since obviously these are completely unbalanced and will generate obesity in your pet, as well as feed intended for other pets, such as dog food, since both species do not have the same needs.
It is also not advisable to give him foods with caffeine, processed products or “junk food”, due to the excess ofsugars and saturated fats they contain.
Likewise, there are other foods that we do not recommend giving your pet, as some may be indigestible in excess, cause problems of long-term he alth and others can poison you, such as:
- Meat and/or derivatives.
- Avocado, especially the skin and pit.
- Rhubarb.
- Garlic.
- Onion.
- S alt or foods with s alt (chips, for example).
- Raw potato, yucca and sweet potato.
- Habas/beans/beans.
- Avoid leafy vegetables and fruits.
Are you going to adopt a pig? Discover this other article about Names for little pigs.
