Pigs can eat sweet potatoes, yes. Sweet potato is high in nutritional value, so it makes a great part of a pig’s diet. But as always, make sure to feed your pigs also with other food to keep a balanced diet. Do not have it only one-sided.
Sweet potatoes aren’t only for humans to eat. With their nutritional value and low price, they are also an excellent food for pigs of all kinds.
Let’s get into it more!
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Is Sweet Potato good for pigs?
Sweet potato is suitable for pigs in a lot of different ways. It’s a great source of nutrients, a cost-friendly feed, and a great alternative to other crop feed.
First, sweet potatoes offer these animals a significant load of energy they need. These crops have carbohydrates packed into them, along with other nutrients.
According to HealthLine, here are some nutrients packed in a cup (100 grams) of raw sweet potato with skin:
- Calories: 86
- Water: 77%
- Protein: 1.6 grams
- Carbs: 20.1 grams
- Sugar: 4.2 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Fat: 0.1 grams
Each sweet potato consists of a high amount of carbs. Thus, it provides energy for every swine that gets it as a feed.
Another good thing about the sweet potato is the fiber it offers. Such components aid and improve digestion. Since hogs are often munching, good digestion is a must for them.
Second, sweet potatoes are cost-friendly, especially to many countries that plant it. For this reason, it can be a great alternative to much other food you’re feeding your pigs.
You can even mix this crop to other feeds to make large servings at small costs. It can even be an excellent substitute for corn and other crop feeds.
What about pet pigs (like mini pigs)? Can they eat sweet potatoes?
Pet pigs like mini pigs have similar bodies and functions like that of farm hogs. In general, their only difference comes in size. Thus, they can also eat sweet potatoes.
However, due to their size, they can only eat sweet potatoes in relatively small servings.
Unlike hogs, pet pigs and mini pigs tend to have smaller digestive organs. At the same time, they also have lesser nutrition requirements.
For this reason, they can eat sweet potatoes but only in small servings. The starch in sweet potatoes can be healthy to them, but too much may cause them harm.
Can potbelly pigs eat sweet potatoes?
Potbelly pigs go the same way when it comes to eating sweet potatoes.
Since people don’t raise them for their meat, potbelly pig owners don’t want to overdo feeding.
These animals eat sweet potatoes, but they only need it in small servings as well.
Unlike hogs, potbellies only have some particular vegetables they can chew. Luckily, sweet potatoes come on that list.
Related – Can pigs eat cabbage?
Can pigs have potatoes?
Sweet potatoes and potatoes differ from each other in many ways, but pigs can have both.
Aside from pigs, potatoes are OK to feed livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses. However, while you may provide this crop raw to these animals, it’s best to cook it for the swine.
Of course, pigs can have potatoes, but it would be best to cook it first before feeding it.
These animals may feed on raw potatoes, but it can be quite hard to digest for pigs, so it’s better to cook it first.
Like sweet potatoes, potatoes have low protein. For this reason, you may want to mix it with protein-rich food instead of feeding it alone.
Related – Can pigs eat goat feed?
Can pigs eat sweet potato skins?
Sweet potato skins are not harmful to pigs. So yes, they can eat sweet potatoes even with the skin still attached to it.
There are several toxic things for pigs, such as the stem and leaves of tomatoes and even onion. However, sweet potato skin does not come in the list of harmful food to feed such animals.
Moreover, the skin contains some fiber that is beneficial in your pig’s digestion.
It’s a good thing for hog raisers who also plant sweet potatoes in their area. They can feed the sweet potatoes that are not suitable for selling.
If you don’t grow sweet potatoes in your area, you may ask the rejects to suppliers for lower cost or even for free. Just don’t give your pig the rotting ones.
Are sweet potatoes good food for pig growth?
While sweet potatoes can be a good energy source, it isn’t good enough for a pig’s growth.
Sweet potatoes are more of an energy food than a growth-improving one.
Pigs need protein and fat to sustain healthy growth. Although sweet potatoes contain protein, it’s not enough for these animals.
If you think of using sweet potato to increase hog’s growth, there are better options.
You can mix sweet potato with protein-rich food. This way, you can provide their daily energy needs while increasing growth.
A balanced meal is key to healthy and sustained growth for these animals.
What do pigs like to eat as a treat?
Pigs aren’t picky eaters, and they can eat almost anything you feed. However, there is some food that they’ll undoubtedly love as a treat.
Here’s a list of food that pigs will love as a treat:
- Cooked broccoli
- Cucumbers
- Cabbage
- Beets
- Celery
- Pitted Apricots & Peaches
- Cherries
- Different types of berries
- Pears
- Apples
- Spinach
- Kale
- Carrots
- Oranges
More food treats come with that list. You can experiment and treat your pigs a different one and see what they favor most.
Giving them various options will also give them a wide range of nutrients their health will enjoy.
What should you not feed pigs?
Pigs may have a wide range of food choices, but it doesn’t mean everything is safe for them.
If you are wondering what to feed your pigs aside from sweet potatoes and potatoes, you may want to avoid these:
Raw meat and eggs
Both meat and eggs may be a great source of protein. However, feeding these raw may cause them harm.
Raw meat may carry bacteria that cause diseases. Raw eggs may compromise biotin absorption.
Thus, if you’re feeding these to your pigs, make sure to cook it first.
Moldy, slimy, or rotten food
Pigs can eat even leftovers and scraps, but it doesn’t mean you can feed moldy and rotting food.
These animals may tolerate it, but regular intake may cause them harm. As a rule, please don’t give them anything you won’t eat yourself.
High salt and sugar content
Food that is too salty and too sweet may harm these animals. Unlike other animals, hogs don’t need too much sodium, and it can break them.
Fruits, on the other hand, are beneficial, but should only serve as treats.
Further, don’t give your pigs food with artificial sweeteners.
Summary
Pigs can eat sweet potatoes, and it can be a great source of energy and a cost-friendly feed. For this reason, you can give it as an alternative for other crops.
However, sweet potatoes aren’t good for a pig’s growth. There are better alternatives, and you may want to go for protein-rich food than a sweet potato for growth.
There are a variety of food options when it comes to these animals. As long as you keep it balanced and avoid toxic food, you can raise pigs efficiently.
Resources
Sweet Potatoes Nutrition Facts
Image credits – Photos by Annie Spratt and Louis Hansel on Unsplash
