Fruits and Vegetables that Pigs can eat Safely

Pigs are omnivores and can eat almost any kind of food, but that does not mean all kinds of foods are healthy for them.

We have discussed cereal grains, and tuber foods that are used for pig feed formulation, so also high protein sources in the past.

Let’s discuss fruits and vegetables pigs can eat, and those that are dangerous to their health.

Sugarcane products and By-products

Crystalline raw sugar and molasses are products that can be derived from sugarcane during the industrial processing of cane.

They have been successfully used in both pig and poultry feeding.

There have not been reports of raw sugar being used alone to feed both poultry and pigs except in combination with molasses.

Final Molasses

This is the uncrystallizable residue after raw sugar has been extracted from clarified sugarcane juice.

The sugar content of this product ranges from 50 to 60% while the matter is high in minerals.

This high mineral content has generally been reported to be responsible for the “physiological” diarrhea experienced in animals when the level of molasses in diets exceeds 30 to 50%.

Sugarcane juice

This product is obtained during sugar fabrication on an industrial and artisanal scale.

Clarification is done to get rid of most of the protein as well as the minerals through the addition of some extracts; the use of lime and sulfur dioxide brings about variation in pH as in the case of the industrial process.

The feeding of can juice as the only source of carbohydrate has been widely practiced on both small and large scales in countries like Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Let’s answer some common questions on healthy fruits and veggies for pigs

Can Pigs eat Banana – Banana is a healthy fruit for pigs. The peels are even rich in energy and can be fed raw to pigs.

Pineapple and Pigs – This fruit is not considered healthy for pigs because of its high sugar content.

However, you can feed the pineapple rind and even the cantaloupe rind to the pigs.

Pigs generally eat fruits that have rinds safely without any health issues.

Is Garlic healthy for Pigs – Some pigs don’t have a problem eating garlic but I suggest you should not feed piglets with garlic.

Garlic can help expel parasites but should be given in a small amount. I prefer to give cooked garlic to swine.

Melon and Pigs – Melons are loved by pigs. They can even eat fresh watermelon and the rind, and it helps with digestion.

Can Pigs eat citrus fruits – Not all citrus fruits are good for pigs. Oranges and tangerines are mostly preferred by pig farmers.

The fleshy part is the most suitable but you can still dry the peels and add to their feed.

The following fruits and vegetables are also edible and safe for pigs when cooked.

Plants that are non-healthy for Pigs

• Foxglove
• Ivy
• Laburnum
• Henbane
• Bracken fern

You should avoid these plants, and we hope to cover more of these plants broadly in our next publishing.