Can Pigs Eat Corn Leaves?

Animals including pigs deserve to be taken care of. They deserve to be fed the right amount of food with the right amount of nutrients. 

Speaking of food with the right amount of nutrients. Corn leaves can be categorized as one. 

Corn leaves can be classified as a source of nutrients for pigs. 

CAN PIGS EAT CORN LEAVES

WHAT ARE CORN LEAVES

Corn leaves are tall plant grass. It has seeds that grow in rows and are usually eaten as vegetables. The leaves of the plant are produced first, followed by the leaf sheaths, stalk, husks, ear shanks, cob, and then the grains. Corn leaves and corn husks are usually referred to as the same. The only difference between the two is the way and how they grow. Therefore, it is fine to use corn husk and corn leaves interchangeably. 

HOW TO SELECT CORN LEAVES FOR YOUR PIGS

• Select leaves that are green without any markings of browning because browning is an indication of worm damage. Better still, the brown part should be cut off
• After selecting, the next step is to wash or rinse the corn leaves thoroughly. This is to ensure that no dirt or insects are consumed with the leaves by your pigs. Animals might not care about this, but it is important because some dirt might lead to severe health complications.
• After serving them with the leaves, make sure they eat them, and if they don't, ensure to remove the stale leaves from their cage or house. This is because stale leaves are not so healthy for consumption especially if they have stayed for days. 
• Also after serving your pigs with the leaves. The remaining leaves can be stored in a plastic bag and can be refrigerated. This would prevent them from getting spoiled, and you would also not have to go through the stress of picking new ones or buying them. Corn leaves can stay in a plastic bag for one week. 

SOME BENEFITS OF CORN LEAVES

Before moving on to the benefits of corn leaves. It is noteworthy that corn leaves are not particularly nutritious to pigs. 

So it should not be totally relied on. It should also be fed to the pigs in moderation. 

Here are some of the positive benefits of corn leaves:

Low on calorie

We all do not want our pets to be unhealthily obese. Food like corn would help pigs to maintain their weight. It would also help keep them healthy. 

Carbohydrate

Pigs need carbohydrates for energy. It is also important that they do not consume too much of these carbohydrates. Excess carbohydrates also have their way of causing obesity. Luckily, the carbohydrate value in corn is decent enough. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one the most essential vitamins needed by both animals and humans. Vitamins help boost general immunity, thereby keeping the body healthy. Aside from this, vitamin C helps prevent scurvy. It is, therefore, more required in young pigs that are just starting to grow their bones. Lack of vitamin C in pig’s diet results in symptoms like bleeding gums, fatigue, and so on

Fiber

Fibers are needed in the food we eat. This is because they aid in better bowel movements, and it also helps soften stool. Aside from these, fiber also helps pigs achieve a healthy weight. The quantity of fiber in corn leaves might not be high when compared to other grains, but it still does the work. 

Potassium

Potassium is one of the essential minerals needed by pigs. Potassium is essential because it is necessary for the normal functioning of all cells in the body. It regulates the muscles and nerves.  The deficiency of potassium might result in fatigue as well as muscle damage. 

Magnesium 

Pigs need magnesium. Magnesium in the body helps boost the general performance of pigs. It also helps boost some anti-inflammatory benefits. Every pig needs a good source of magnesium.

Cheap

Corns are not expensive. Any pig farmer or owner should be able to get some for their pigs. Better still, corn sellers should be able to offer some. 

What about corn stalks, can pigs eat them too?

As mentioned earlier, pigs can eat corn stalks too. One great advantage of growing corn for pigs is that they will eat and utilize the whole stalk of corn. Therefore, harvesting for pig consumption will only consist of chopping corn stalks off and feeding them directly to your pigs. There would be no need for stripping the corn ears, shucking, or shelling.

It would be more appropriate to cut the corn into smaller pieces for them though. This is to prevent choking hazards. It also makes the meal more enjoyable. 

CAN PIGS EAT SWEET CORN?

It is not recommended for pigs to eat sweet corn as they eat corn leaves. Sweet corn, unlike fresh corn, is the type of corn usually stored in cans. It contains a lot of additives which is why it is not so safe for pigs to eat. Sweet also contains a lot of sugar for pigs' liking. Sugars are not the best for pigs. 

However, if you do have to feed them with the canned sweet corn, ensure it is well rinsed before serving it to them. 

In Summary, 

Corn is good for pigs' health, but it should not be consumed in large quantities because it doesn't contain entirely all the nutrients that pigs need plus, some nutrients are only present in small quantities.  Therefore, corn should not be too over-dependent as your pig's meal. Also, if you doubt whether or not to feed your pigs with corn, asking a veterinarian would be a good idea. 

Remember, all that matters is for your little pets to be well and healthy.