Pigs can eat bananas, yes. They can also eat bananas peels. But it should be in moderation. Overall, pigs like many fruits as apples, oranges, plums, or pears. It’s not as nutritious as other food, but it’s still a good treat for your hog.
Let’s get more in-depth into this topic!
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Is banana good for pigs?
Banana provides adequate nutrition for pigs. Regular eating of such would contribute to a balanced diet.
Every banana piece is rich in essential amino acids, Vitamins such as C and B6, and minerals. However, what makes it best is the potassium it offers.
All these components help both pigs and piglets’ health and diet. More than that, both of these animals would benefit from other nutritional value of it.
Nutritional value for one medium banana (100g):
- Calories: 89
- Water: 75%
- Protein: 1.1 grams
- Carbs: 22.8 grams
- Sugar: 12.2 grams
- Fiber: 2.6 grams
- Fat: 0.3 grams
Such a fruit provides hogs a low-calorie treat. However, like grapes and any other fruit, bananas should only serve as a treat and not the only food for them.
Further, this fruit has minimal cholesterol and sodium content. Since hogs don’t need a lot of sodium, it’s a healthy treat for them.
Lastly, bananas contain fiber that aids in the digestion of hogs. Since these animals eat a lot, maintaining good digestion is a must.
What about pet pigs? Can they eat bananas?
Yes, even pet pigs can eat and enjoy the nutritional benefits of bananas.
When you’re feeding bananas to pet pigs, it’s advisable to offer it in bite-size pieces to avoid choking.
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Can pigs eat bananas peels?
Many people think that banana peels are toxic to pigs. However, that’s not entirely true.
A study suggests that banana peels can make good feed for hogs. The peels have a high energy content, although low in protein and amino acid composition.
Thus, instead of being toxic, banana peels are rather a source of nutrition for hogs.
Pigs can eat banana peels. However, their way of eating is what makes banana peels dangerous.
These animals tend to swallow food without thorough chewing. As a result, feeding a whole banana with peel can invite a choking accident.
If you wish for your pet to eat both, you can offer it in small pieces. You can also mix it with other food after cutting.
Can pigs eat banana leaves?
Aside from the fruit and the peel, pigs can also eat the leaves of their tree.
Hogs aren’t picky eaters, and they can munch even leaves and grass. Thus, if they were able to reach leaves, they’ll also eat it.
Most of these animals get to eat banana leaves used by people who feasted on it.
Thus, together with leftovers, they also devour the leaves.
Not only that, but they can also feed on the trunk of the banana tree.
The trunk of the banana tree has a soft and easy to chew body. If you cut it into bite-size pieces, you can mix it with food for your pig.
Still, it’s best to keep both the leaf and trunk consumption in moderation.
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How often can you give bananas to pigs?
Although bananas are safe and beneficial to pigs, you should not feed them too much.
If you want to feed your hog some bananas, you can let it consume one or two banana every couple of days.
If your pet is a piglet, feed it only a couple of small sizes instead of a whole.
Bananas may be beneficial for hogs, but it doesn’t offer the whole nutrients for their health.
As a general rule of thumb, serve bananas only as a treat from time to time, and don’t make it the base of their diet.
Are bananas good food for pig growth?
Bananas have a lot of nutritional benefits to offer for pigs. However, it does not affect growth directly.
Bananas may contain protein for growth, but it’s not enough for their daily needs.
The growth of a hog requires a steady intake of protein and fats.
Since pigs are omnivores, they take benefits from both meat and plant-based food.
Relying on bananas would not suffice for growth.
Thus, if you are looking for food that increases growth speed, you may opt for other food than bananas.
Further, you can increase appetite by feeding wet food. Mix every food you offer with water, as it will help your pet eat more.
Mix it with some protein-rich food and give it in large servings. Regular consumption should improve and speed up growth.
Do you want to know if pigs eat meat? Learn more.
What fruits can pigs eat?
Aside from bananas, pigs also favor many other fruits. The list of fruits that pigs can eat includes the following:
Pears
Pears offer high amounts of fiber, which aids digestion.
Apples
A few apples every once in a while work as antioxidants.
Watermelons
Watermelons are not only a fun treat but also a way to keep them hydrated.
Strawberries
Together with other berries, strawberries work as an anti-oxidant as well.
Oranges
Orange is rich in vitamin C that helps in keeping a strong immunity.
Aside from these fruits, you can also offer the following:
- Pitted cherries and peaches
- Grapes
- Apricots
- Melons
- Grapefruit
What foods can pigs not eat?
Although pigs can eat almost anything, there are a few foods that you should avoid feeding them. These are:
Moldy, slimy, or rotten food
While it may not be lethal, it’s still best to offer food that is safe to eat.
As a general rule of thumb, don’t give your pigs something that you and other animals won’t eat.
Raw meat and eggs
Meat contains a good source of protein for pigs. However, offering it raw would invite foot and mouth disease.
The same thing applies to raw eggs. Although it has a high protein, raw ones can prevent proper biotin absorption.
Always feed cooked meat and eggs to avoid any further issues.
High salt and sugar content
Too much salt and sugar can take a toll on hogs. As such, avoid food containing a high amount of salt.
Although fruits are beneficial, it contains sugar. Thus, try to avoid giving too much fruit as much as possible.
At the same time, avoid giving spices such as garlic and onion, especially the raw ones. While it may not be lethal, it’s still not good for pigs to eat.
In Summary
Bananas are one of the most common fruits. A lot of people and animals reap nutritional benefits from regular consumption.
The same goes for hogs. Eating bananas will help these animals in a lot of different ways. So yes, you can feed bananas to your pigs.
However, it’s best to maintain moderate consumption. It is because banana offers only a portion of the whole nutrition hogs need.
Resources
HealthLine article about nutritional value of banans
Centre for Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics study about feeding pigs with bananas peels
Image credits – Photos by Laura Anderson and Brett Jordan on Unsplash
