What Do Pigs Eat
By: Want To Know It
Pigs (also called hogs or swine) are animals that have small eyes, a small tail and have a snout for a nose. But what do pigs eat? This post will answer that question, and then look at some interesting facts about pigs.
What do Pigs Eat?
Pigs are omnivores, which means that they eat plants and animals. Pigs eat almost any kind of food, including dead insects, worms, trees, bark, garbage and even dead pigs. In the wild, they forage for their food. They mainly eat leaves, grass, roots, fruits and flowers. So now you know what pigs eat!
Facts About Pigs
- Pigs do not have sweat glands, so they cool themselves by using water or mud. Mud protects the pigs from flies and other nasty parasites.
- There are over 2 billion domestic pigs around the world!
- The Asian pot-bellied pig is kept as a pet.
- A typical litter of piglets contains 6-12 piglets (baby pigs).
- Pigs have four toes on each foot. Only the two middle toes (which are larger than the others) are used for walking.
- Domestic pigs are raised by farmers for their meat (pork) and for leather.
- Some domestic pigs have escaped from farms and become feral. These pigs cause major damage to the environment as they eat many native plants and grasses.
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12 Comments for What Do Pigs Eat
1. rosy russell | June 18th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
question – can i raise pigs on grassland without feeding much grain? am very interested to see they eat grass.
2. Want to know it | June 19th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Excellent question. I am no expert on pig farming but apparently there are people who raise pigs on grass! Check out this- http://www.goodbyecitylife.com/barn/pigs.htm
3. Dancing Queen | July 16th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I heard pigs eat slop on farms, and anything they can find in the wild.
4. Disneygirl | January 22nd, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I am doing a debate at my school and I am against the pigs. This information was great!
5. Lee Beeney | March 15th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
some interesting facts
cheers 
xx
6. debbie | April 23rd, 2010 at 3:50 pm
pigs WOW my kid likes pigs!
7. Laurel | May 9th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I have 4 pigs and they like almost anything except banana peels, orange peels and onions. I heard that chunks of coal are an important part of their diet and am trying that also. So far they love it.
8. Ian | June 18th, 2010 at 3:07 am
Hi, I worked for a major grocery chain and all the old bread from the bakery department was put in a big compactor. Sort of like a garbage truck but got no wheels. I asked the guy who picks it up every two weeks what they do with it and he said that it is mixed with other food waste like vegetables and milk and given to the pig farmers for pig food. Also all the old scrap meat from the meat department that is rotten and reeks really bad is made into soap and cosmetics…………..lol……..Also when I was young I asked the truck driver that takes all the grease from McDonalds what they do with it and he said they make soap and other stuff…………100% true….no joke!
9. Andrea | June 25th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Can anyone tell me if it is safe for pigs to eat laurel and holly?
10. Want to know it | June 26th, 2010 at 2:35 am
Andrea I have no idea and can’t find any information about it.
11. Stacy | August 17th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Can I feed my Pot belly pigs rotten ground beef?
12. Want to know it | August 19th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Stacy, I am not an expert but it should be fine. Pigs can eat just about anything!
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