Pigs can eat bacon, yes. Overall, pigs can eat pork as long as it’s cooked, not raw. Raw pork can cause Cholera or Trichinosis. But because bacon is already cooked, you can give it safely to your pigs, and they will love it. The ethical side is another matter.
Since bacon is pork, it may seem weird and unethical to offer it to pigs, especially since it’s their meat. Still, when it comes to safety, it should be alright, and they’ll love it.
Let’s get into it more!
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Is it safe to feed bacon to a pet pig?
Yes, it is entirely safe for pigs to eat bacon, and you can feed it as a treat or as part of their meal.
These animals are omnivores. Thus, while they love to eat vegetables and other plant-based food, they will also enjoy meat.
It may seem weird, unethical, and even sarcastic to see them eating a product made from their meat.
Still, they can take some nutrients from it if you offer some. However, make sure not to provide uncooked meat.
Bacon, along with other pork and other meat, can be harmful to pigs if fed uncooked or raw.
Raw meat may carry viruses and bacteria. Thus, feeding it to these animals uncooked may transfer such and cause diseases.
Whatever meat you feed, be it bacon, or any pork, always cook it first.
As long as you cook the meat before feeding, it should be sufficient for them.
Related – Can pigs eat pork?
Is feeding a pig with bacon illegal?
Feeding bacon to pigs may be legal or illegal, depending on the country where you live.
For instance, countries like Australia prohibits feeding pigs any food that contains meat. They also don’t allow meat and any products from mammals that have been in contact with them.
Thus, feeding bacon for people in such countries is illegal.
Other illegal feed includes food scraps, leftovers, and waste like kitchen scraps.
It’s alright for people in the US to feed scraps and even meat products, so it should be sufficient for US citizens to do so.
Still, you may want to feed cooked bacon and other meat, and not the raw ones.
Can pigs eat cooked bacon?
Yes, pigs can eat cooked bacon, and it’s better than the raw ones.
Feeding uncooked pork products to a pig can lead to diseases such as cholera or Trichinosis. The reason is that raw or uncooked meat may carry bacteria that can transfer to these animals if eaten raw.
Thus, cooked bacon is your best bet if you want to give these animals a porky treat.
It may seem sarcastic, like in this video clip. Still, these animals would eat such because it’s available.
Even if pigs can eat cooked bacon, it doesn’t mean they can have as much as they want, and as much as you want to feed.
While cooked bacon is safe, it still contains a lot of salt, and too much salt can be harmful to these animals.
Bacon is a result of curing pork meat with salt. Thus, it’s unhealthy, even for us, to eat bacon in large amounts.
The same principle applies to these animals. They can eat bacon, but it can’t be a part of their regular diet.
Do pigs like bacon?
These animals may have a preference when it comes to food, but they would surely like some strips of bacon as a treat.
Domestic animals tend to love whatever food they receive from their owners.
Thus, they would surely love bacon treats if you feed it to them. A gentle reminder, though: Don’t go overboard with bacon feeding.
These animals aren’t picky eaters, and they can eat whatever you will offer. They wouldn’t even mind eating horrible-looking leftovers and scraps.
Whatever you feed these animals, make sure it’s completely safe and healthy for them.
Of course, feeding bacon may be fun to watch, but you shouldn’t overdo it.
Can pigs eat other pigs?
Yes, pigs can eat other pigs. In the wild, these animals eat their kin and can even devour their offsprings. If they found a dead carcass in the wild, they would feast on it.
Although domestic pigs aren’t that hardcore, they can also eat the meat of their kin. They can even eat human flesh if they see an opportunity.
It’s not completely weird to know that pigs eat pork and other pork products such as bacon.
If they can eat their kin in the wild, they indeed wouldn’t say no to a strip of tasty bacon.
Still, as owners, you should keep the pork treats as minimal as you can. And, when you do, opt for something healthier and safer.
While feeding bacon shouldn’t cause any harm, it’s still high in sodium.
You can feed it pork along with other nutritious vegetables and other food.
As long as you keep the meals balanced, you’ll have a healthy pig that will grow quick and safe from harm.
Can pigs eat rice or chicken feed? Check it out.
Is it ethical to feed bacon to pigs?
Although these animals eat bacon, it doesn’t mean they are unethical.
When pigs eat bacon, they are not thinking of it as their fellow swine. They see bacon, along with other pork, as a feed they should eat to survive.
Animals act on instinct, and they do things to survive. Thus, they eat fellow pigs, and even bacon and other pork products to survive.
Since they are scavengers, they would eat whatever they receive. If they only have pork, they will munch it to satisfy their hunger.
In the end, it’s always our decision as owners whether we want to feed bacon or other pork to these animals or not.
Still, it would be best if you always considered that they kill their fellow animals in the wild. They eat to survive, and so it shouldn’t be so wrong.
Summary
Pigs can eat bacon, along with all other types of pork products. It may seem unethical and a little bit sarcastic for pigs to eat their meat. Still, they eat whatever they can get to survive.
While they can eat bacon and other pork, the raw or uncooked ones are bad for them. Thus, as owners, it would be best to cook every piece of meat we feed to them.
In the end, it’s crucial to give pigs a balanced diet. Offer pork once in a while, but also offer vegetables and plant-based food. This way, you’ll be sure your animal gets the proper nutrients it can get.
Resources
Image credits – Photo by Kenneth Schipper Vera on Unsplash
