Pigs are highly adaptable omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. Their diet significantly impacts their growth, health, and well-being, whether domesticated or foraging. Understanding their dietary needs and what foods can be harmful is important for their care.
Diet of Domesticated Pigs
The diet of domesticated pigs in agricultural settings supports their growth and health. Commercial feeds primarily consist of grains like corn, barley, wheat, oats, rye, and triticale, serving as the main energy source. These are supplemented with protein sources, commonly soybean meal, and can include canola meal, sunflower meal, fish meal, or insect larvae.
Commercial feeds are also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. These supplements ensure pigs receive a balanced diet for optimal development at different life stages, from piglets to finishing hogs, supporting efficient nutrient utilization and physiological function.
Natural Foraging Habits
In natural environments, wild pigs or those allowed to forage exhibit a broad omnivorous diet. Their food consumption varies based on seasonal availability and location. Plant material forms a large part of their diet, including roots, tubers, bulbs, fruits, nuts, seeds, leaves, stems, and shoots. They use their keen sense of smell to root for subterranean food sources like roots and invertebrates.
Beyond vegetation, wild pigs consume various animal matter, including invertebrates such as earthworms, insects, and insect larvae. They also prey on small vertebrates like reptiles, amphibians, birds and their eggs, and small mammals. Carrion is readily consumed, highlighting their role as scavengers.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods are harmful or toxic to pigs and should be avoided. Raw potatoes and green tomatoes contain solanine, a poison causing digestive, heart, and nervous system damage. Avocado peelings, pits, and leaves contain persin, causing heart and breathing difficulties. Spoiled or moldy feed contains mycotoxins, which can cause illness.
Foods high in salt can lead to salt poisoning and severe dehydration, disrupting electrolyte balance. Chocolate and caffeinated products contain theobromine and caffeine, which pigs cannot metabolize efficiently, causing vomiting, seizures, and heart issues. Apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that convert to toxic cyanide, while grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure.
Toxic plants include:
Bracken fern
Hemlock
Deadly nightshade
Foxglove
Elder
Acorns are also toxic due to high tannin content. Some vegetables like parsnips, celery, and parsley contain furocoumarins, which can cause photosensitization, particularly in pigs with pink skin.
Nutritional Requirements
Pigs require a balanced intake of specific nutrients for optimal health. Protein, composed of amino acids, is essential for growth, muscle development, and reproduction. Lysine is particularly important and often a limiting amino acid in pig diets. Carbohydrates and fats provide primary energy sources for daily activities and metabolism.
Vitamins and minerals are also needed to support physiological processes. Vitamins such as A, D, E, and the B complex are important for immune function, bone health, and tissue formation. Minerals like calcium and phosphorus are important for bone structure. Other essential minerals include:
Sodium
Chloride
Zinc
Copper
Iron
Iodine
Selenium
These support electrolyte balance, enzyme function, and blood production. These components ensure the pig’s well-being throughout its life stages.