Can Pigs Eat Figs?

 

Figs are another type of fruit that does not get as much recognition as they deserve. 

This is why you might have also not heard about them or why you still do not know whether or not they are safe for your pets. 

Firstly, what are figs? Figs are often categorized as fruit, though it's a group of tiny flowers growing inside an edible shell. Most of the world's figs are grown in places like Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Spain, and California; this might be the reason why you don't see many of them in your country. Figs are intensely sweet, so they are often used in dessert-course. They can be eaten whole, baked, fried, grilled, or even roasted. 

So now, can our pigs eat this amazing fruit?

Yes, Pigs can eat figs. Your pigs will love them as a treat and will enjoy the many nutritional benefits that they bring as they are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Figs are amazingly beneficial to your pigs, but if you are feeding them for the first time, you would want to start with a small amount and then study their reaction to the fruit. If everything goes fine on the first trial, you can then increase the amount later on as long as it is a gradual process.

Benefits of Figs for Pigs:

• The fruit pulp also known as the edible part of figs is said to contain a sweet soluble form of fiber.  As you might already know, fibers are digested slowly thus, the pig gets a constant release of glucose in its bloodstream. This would then help it to remain calm and satisfied for a longer period. Aside from this, fibers in these fruits also help to prevent constipation in your pigs. Thereby, making it easy for them to stool. This is simply what fibers do. 

• This fruit also contains quite a lot of water. Water acts similarly to fiber. Aside from keeping your pigs hydrated,  it would also help enhance a better bowel movement. Thereby, preventing constipation and aiding better stooling. Water would also help promote a better overall digestive health 

• The low-calorie content of figs also makes them a go-to fruit for pigs. A medium-sized fig contains only about 30 calories. This means that you can feed them to your pigs without having to worry so much about gaining unhealthy weight. 

• Figs are known to also help improve blood pressure and blood fat levels, which can therefore help to improve your pig's vascular health and thus decrease the risk of heart disease.

• This fruit also contains other beneficial nutrients like vitamins, such as vitamin K and vitamin B6. It also contains minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and copper which would help support your proper growth in pigs. 

• Figs also contain antioxidants that would help to counter any oxidative damage done by any external agents or radicals to organs like the liver, kidney & heart. Also, it is known that In ancient times when pigs were reared within homes they were fed exclusively with these fruits because they not only help them grow faster but also helped them resist disease & infections better

What Other Fruits are Good For Pigs?

Just in case your pet pig does not like fig fruit. Then there are some good and nutritious fruits you can feed them as alternatives. 

Grapes

 They are known to be one of the most popular fruits fed to pigs. Grapes are a good source of fiber and they are also high in sugar content. This makes them an excellent and popular choice for feeding pigs because they aid better digestibility, nutritional value, and energy density among others. Grapes also contain good quantities of vitamins such as vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and also vitamin C. They also contain folate. All these are beneficial to a piglet's growth. They can be given to piglets after they are weaned

Banana

 Bananas are not only very tasty but they are also highly nutritious for pigs. Banana contains a high level of potassium which helps in maintaining healthy blood pressure in pigs. Bananas also contain thiamine and riboflavin that helps metabolize carbohydrates specifically.  

Apples

Apples also make a great fruit offering for your pet pigs. They contain beneficial antioxidants including quercetin which helps strengthen the immune system. Apples would also help your pigs lower the risk of cardiovascular issues and also aid in maintaining healthy blood pressure. Like they say "An Apple a day keeps the doctor away"

Coconut

Coconut is another fruit that is very low in cholesterol, and high in fiber and yet contains a good amount of protein. They are good for your pigs and piglets.

Blueberries

They are high in fiber and low in fat and calories, blueberries are great food for your pet pig but when consumed in moderation. They help regulate blood sugar levels in your pigs as well as lower the risk of heart disease, and obesity. They also contain antioxidants that would generally help keep the body in a better state.  

Strawberries 

Strawberries, another Berry fruit that has only come to do your pigs nothing but good. You can introduce this fruit to your baby pig as early as 7 days post-birth. They contain high levels of folic acid that help prevent congenital defects (birth defects). The above fruits are recommended for your pet pig as they contain good amounts of nutrients such as fiber, Vitamin C, B6, folate, antioxidants,  and potassium among other nutrients. 

Bad Fruits Alternatives Pigs Shouldn’t Eat?

Now that we all know the good alternatives for figs, it would only be right to also know the bad alternatives. Right?

Because It is also extremely important to know what to avoid while feeding your pigs. Here is a list of what you need to keep away from your pets.

Citrus Fruits

This fruit can be a bit controversial because some people believe that they are safe for pigs and some believe they are not. Whatever the case might be, it is only important that if you ever decide to feed them to your pigs then do so in moderation. It is said that they are not safe due to their high acidic levels which will cause problems to their digestive system.

Avocado

 Avocado is known to contain persin, which is toxic to pigs.

Ivy

 yes, even these beautiful flowers can cause problems if ingested by your pigs.

Apple seeds

 it should be no news by now that the seeds of apples can cause problems for your pigs, so try to remove them from your food before feeding them to your pigs.

Tomato leaves

contain a toxic substance called alkaloid tomatine, which is also toxic for some animals like pigs. 

In Summary

Figs are your friend and your pig's friend, as long as it is kept to a moderate level. Some fruits like grapes, apples, strawberries, blueberries, e.t.c would also serve as a good alternative for pigs that cannot take figs for one reason or the other.