California Potbellied Pig Association, Inc

Potbellied Pig Diet  

GENERAL POTBELLIED PIG DIETS

In this section I decided to present types of potbellied pig diets.  These diets are for healthy adult potbellied pigs.  The first is the more traditional diet of potbellied pig feed with supplements.  The second is a mostly vegetable diet that some of our members find to be beneficial.  Do not feed dog food, cat food or domestic pig feed.  Also attached are other diets that you may find beneficial.

POTBELLIED PIG DIET

by Chris Christensen

A few years ago we altered our potbellied pig diet to include more vegetables and fruit.  We find that this has nearly eliminated occasional constipation problems.  I slice or chop the squashes, fruits and vegetables as I feel it makes them eat a little slower.  It’s a bit more work, but this diet has added no unwanted weight and the pigs seem very happy with it.  Any good potbellied pig feed will work.  Beware of ash content especially with male pigs.  Any squash is fine.  Avoid iceberg lettuce as it has no nutritional value.  With the vegetables and fruit added, other supplements are probably not necessary, but I still like the Next Level liquid for their leg joints.

MORNING:        

½ cup potbellied pig feed mixed with 2 to 3 cups of warm water.  

¼ of an average size zucchini and ¼ of a medium size apple.

Enough chopped Romaine lettuce to cover the meal.

½  to 1 ounce Next Level equine joint fluid,

5000mg Glucosamine and 1750mg MSM (feed stores and on-line).        

1 tablet NOW vit-min 75+ Multi Vitamin (available on-line or at some health food stores) or other 

      vitamin source at least 100iu Vitamin E.           

1 tablet 500mg Vitamin C every other day or daily if multi vitamin does not contain Vitamin C.          

EVENING:          

Same as morning minus the Next Level and the vitamins.

BEDTIME:(Optional if they’re still up):          

1 cup fresh vegetables and/or fruit (zucchini, apples, carrots or others as available)

A couple of years ago we rescued a somewhat crippled, fat blind and fat deaf 300 + pound potbellied pig from a local county animal shelter. (age unknown)  In less than a year and a half on this diet (which we have used on all of our pigs for the last few years) his weight dropped to 184 pounds, and he was able to have an operation to remove his forehead fat which restored his vision and hearing.  He is now an active, healthy 155 pound member of our household.

VEGETARIAN PIGGY DIET

by Kelley Moon

A vegetarian diet full of veggies and greens are highly recommended. I find that a strict diet of the pig chow often leads to obesity and dry skin.  Below I have listed some recommended things to feed your piggy:    

Veggies:  (giving veggies from all of the color groups is a good idea) carrots, zucchini, beets (and their tops), turnips, eggplant, yellow squash, summer squash, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, green beans, yams or sweet potatoes (limited! – they are starchy), bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts.       

Note:  I often use frozen veggies by putting them in the microwave with some water and nuking them for about four minutes on high. (canned veggies are not recommended – too much sodium).    

Greens:  romaine, green leaf, and red leaf lettuce (not iceberg – there is NO nutritional value in iceberg lettuce at all), collard, mustard, kale, etc.    

Fruit:  limit to one serving per day as they have a lot of natural sugars – the sweeter the fruit, the more sugar it has. Things from the melon family are better, such as watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe.    

Grains:  bran flakes (not raisin bran – raisins stick between teeth and promote tooth rot!) or Cheerios, wheat germ, red flakey bran, etc.    

Protein:  pigs need about 10% protein in their overall daily diet – giving beans and nuts will satisfy that requirement.  Kidney and other red beans, cannelli beans, garbanzo, soy.  Tofu and soy milk are great for your piggy too.    

Liquids:  here is a little trick for getting your piggy to eat almost anything:  Make a mixture of 1/3 juice (something non-acidic such as apple or Cranberry) with 2/3 water.  Douse meal bowl with juice/water mix and stir – everything tastes faintly like juice so the piggy will eat it.       

Other:  I recommend a children’s chewable vitamin and a heaping teaspoon of freshly ground flaxseed once daily.  Flaxseed oil or Fish oil capsules are ok but I find that freshly ground flaxseed is even more beneficial to their skin.  Freshly grinding the flaxseed releases the oil just before serving.   

For arthritic, older pigs I recommend giving Glucosamine & Chondroiten with MSM & collagen supplements. Costco & Sam’s Clubs carry several types – my favorite is the liquid from Costco (berry flavored) or Sam’s (citrus flavored). Just measure and pour into food bowl once daily.

Pigs aren't our whole lives...

They make our lives whole.