Pig breeding or farming for a domestic or commercial purpose is a big deal. Customizing their diet to suit their needs and preferences is of utmost importance. Pigs can eat a lot of things, but how many of them add to their nutritional quality? Often pig owners wonder whether or not pigs can eat oranges.
So, can pigs eat oranges? Yes, oranges can be given to pigs but with certain limitations. Fruits of the citrus family aren’t necessarily bad, but they are a bit of a hassle. For instance, if you want to feed the pig an orange, you will have to peel off the skin and the rinds. However, it is seen that piglets love oranges more than adult pigs. Oranges serve as a sweet treat for the pigs.
With a varied option for treats, oranges might not be the first choice to feed them. Many people opt for other treats like cabbage and pineapples.
Why are oranges beneficial for pigs?
Naturally rich in Vitamin C, oranges are the primal option for protection against many diseases and bacteria. Some vets recommend oranges for piglets suffering from obesity. Here are some of the health boons of feeding orange to pigs.
- It boosts up the immunity as it is free of radicals
- Protective properties against arthritis, asthma, and diabetes are developed.
- Oranges have healthy fibers that contribute to maintaining the blood sugar level and cholesterol level.
- Filled with vitamin A, B1, and other such minerals(calcium, potassium, and copper), it adds to the pig’s overall nutrition.
- It also aids in the metabolism process without fattening up the liver.
Can pigs eat orange peels?
Pigs eat orange peels though it’s nowhere near the real deal. These peels contain a substantial dose of Vitamin C in them. It also helps in ailing the constipation of the pigs.
It can be given in a small amount, but your pigs will definitely be less enthusiastic about eating it. Tearing it up in small pieces before feeding it would be the most viable method of feeding these animals. You can also soften them up by soaking them in water.
Some folks prefer giving the pigs stale or fermented rinds of oranges and other fruits or vegetables. This method decreases the level of nutrition and increases the chance of infection. It would not be a wise decision to feed the pigs this way.
Should orange juice be given to pigs?
It is advised that orange juice shouldn’t make it to the pig’s diet as it contains a significant amount of sugar content. Furthermore, the lack of fibrous matter also keeps it off the menu chart for the pigs.
Pulp extracts and wastes
When oranges are peeled and squeezed,40-50% of the weight remains in the solid wastes. This waste is what the body of the pig requires for immunity. This waste accounts for a significant portion of the pigs or other cows’ diets. Mixed with fresh grass, this waste generates a lot of fodder for the cattle.
Citrus or orange extracts can be stored and stocked for a year. The dried pulp is also a good source of calcium and phosphorus, and when mixed in the right ratio, they enhance the nutritional value of the diet.
Disadvantages of feeding oranges to your pig
As oranges are often considered treats, they make for a good amount of sugar content in the body. Therefore, their consumption should be restricted to one or two in 10 days. Although these fruits are rich in Vitamin C, anything in abundance can be detrimental to the pig’s body.
It can lead to indigestion and upset stomach and also induce acid reflux. Even in some cases, the sugar intake went so high that the pig was diagnosed with diabetes.
How to feed oranges to your pig?
There are some methods that you must abide by while feeding your pigs with oranges and other citrus fruits:
- Thoroughly clean the vegetables and fruit that you are going to feed your pet.
- Take out the seeds as it can choke the pig and turn out to be toxic for the pet.
- Peel the orange and, if possible separate the segments.
- You can also chop it up in pieces and place it in a feeding bowl.
- You can store a batch of prepared oranges in the refrigerator for future treats. It allows no deprecation in the vitamin and mineral content.
Foods that pigs can eat
Pigs are omnivorous scavengers, i.e., they can eat anything and everything. As you may have seen that pigs are often found in garbage dumps scouring for food. Here is a list of food that pigs prefer (other than wastes of course)
- Broccoli – Cooked or raw
- Apricots – Pitted and peeled.
- Cucumbers – peeled and sliced.
- Lettuce – Baby lettuce without the core
- Potatoes – Cooked and mashed
- Beets – Raw or cooked
- Pumpkin – Boiled and peeled.
- Squashes – All variety
- Zucchini – Cooked
- Snow peas – Raw
- Spinach – Blanched or boiled
- Yams – Peeled, boiled and mashed
- Kale – Boiled
- Tomatoes – Chopped
- Swiss Chard – Boiled
- Carrots – Raw or cooked
- Pears – Pitted and ripe
- Apples – Ripe or unripe but deseeded.
- Berries – Raw
- Oranges – Sliced and peeled.
- Grapefruit – Sliced and peeled
- Melons – Chopped and peeled
- Cherries – Pitted
- Corn – Boiled
- Lime – Raw but peeled
- Peaches – Pitted and peeled
Pig Diet
Yeah, they are not fussy and sloppy eaters by nature, but leaving their diet unchecked would immediately put their health at risk. Adult pigs and piglets are usually allowed different foods according to their bodily needs.
Piglets first feed on their mother’s milk and then move on to other foods. Their diets should carefully be monitored as they grow up. In the initial stages, they can be fed corn and soybeans. Corns are the source of energy, while the soy is for the protein requirement of the body.
Hogs also eat wheat and sorghums to strengthen the muscles, and some additives are also fed for the production of leaner meat. Their diets are a lot reliant on grains. Thus, many farmers prefer home-grown food. Edamame, a soy product, is also considered excellent for the pig.
How do pigs filter bad food from the good?
It is fascinating to see that given the amount of garbage that a pig consumes, it does not fall sick! So, how do they stay healthy even after eating so many toxins?
When they eat any harmful substance, their body does not filter it out separately. Rather they store those toxins in their fat pouch. The toxins immediately and directly reach the fat bag after consumption, and they can thereby ingest a lot of toxins.
In some places, pigs are employed in golf fields to clear the area of snakes! Yes, their toxin ingestion capacity is that high!
Foods that are toxic to pigs
- Oak leaves and acorns are usually bad for the pig. These may lead to constipation and hemorrhagic diarrhea.
- Nuts such as almond and cashew in their raw form contain cyanide, and in such an amount that it may prove to be fatal to the pig.
- Some throw their pigs foods which have gone sour or moldy, don’t, as fungi are not a friend of pigs’ gut bacteria.
- Raw bread dough contains yeast, which gives rise to diseases like metabolic acidosis and CNS.
- Onion, chocolates, and salt(sodium-rich foods) causes anemia, lethargy, and dehydration.
- Even tomato leaves are bad for pigs as it contains a significant glycoalkaloid named tomatine. It hinders the absorption of food in the intestine and gives rise to the blood’s sugar level.
Pigs rearing comes without a lot of preparation and hassle, and that’s why many invest in it. Some even take pigs as pets as they have zero maintenance issues. So, if we take care of our hogs a little bit, it will be a companion worth accompanying you.