When it comes to eating, pigs are not picky eaters, on the contrary, they will usually eat anything that you feed them. But this ability must be managed by us humans; not all they can eat will help them improve their health.
So precaution must be in place when introducing new food to pigs, especially if you’re not sure your pigs should be eating this type of food. For this reason, in this article, I explain everything you need to know about gourds and whether or not your pigs should be eating these types of fruits.
Can pigs eat gourds? Gourds are a great source of nutrients, so yes, pigs can definitely eat these types of fruits. This will be a great addition to your pigs diet and a tasty one. Pigs will usually devour this type of fruit as soon as they put their eyes on it.
If this is your first time introducing this type of fruit to your pigs, it would be great if you could cut them into pieces just to make it easier for them to eat. If you notice pigs are a bit shy when it comes to eating these fruit, you should give them time.
Just like any other food, pigs can develop a taste for it. Sometimes they will like it, and others they won’t, but in reality, the majority, if they are hungry enough, they won’t hesitate to eat the delicious gourds.
Are Gourds Good for Pigs?
Gourds, just like pumpkins and any of the Cucurbitaceae family are a great option when you’re looking to provide a great nutritional value to your pigs.
This type of fruit will provide protein, calories, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin a, vitamin c, iron, calcium riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, folic acid, zinc potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and many other nutrients.
And what is great is that the gourds come from the Cucurbitaceae family, which is made of 900 species of this type of fruit. So there is definitely lots of variety to choose from.
Can Pigs Eat Decorative Gourds?
As long as the gourds haven’t been painted or damaged in any way, they will be fine to eat. After you’re done with the decoration, you can clean it up and feed it to your pigs.
Like the pumpkins used during hollowing, many of these decorations end up in pig farms, and yes, the pigs love them.
Can Pigs Eat Raw Gourds?
Yes, whether it’s cooked or raw, pigs will definitely go crazy when it comes to eating gourds.
But I do recommend that if you’re going to cook the gourds make sure to keep them low in salt and sugars as these types of additives aren’t great for pigs and many other animals.
Heck, you know what salt and sugar do to us humans, so expect the same with animals.
A great rule to follow when you’re feeding something new to your pigs, is that if it’s ok for a human to eat it, there is a high probability that it won’t hurt your pigs. And yes, this rule obviously has some exceptions, but this type of common sense it’s better than guessing.
Can Mini Pigs Eat Gourds?
Mini pigs are extraordinary animals that require a strict diet if you want to see them thrive. But yes, they can also eat gourds. You just have to make sure you cut them into small pieces to help them out.
Mini pigs and other pig breeds can eat gourds; you just have to know when it’s the best occasion to feed them this type of fruit.
Remember, they can’t just live by eating gourd; they also need other types of nutrients, especially to develop mini pigs.
A treat should never replace the pigs primary source of nutrients, which should be the pigs feed.
Can Pigs Eat Pumpkins and Gourds?
Yes, as I previously mentioned, both of these fruits come from the same family, which has more than 900 species. They are all similar, so they can definitely eat both.
You can surely mix them up together, and your pigs will probably not even notice the difference; they will just eat them all.
Pigs enjoy eating pumpkins during fall, and if you can save some for winter, they will thank you for it.
They can also eat them raw or cooked in any recipe you like; you just have to make sure to not feed them as much if it contains sugars or salt.
Conclusion: Can Pigs Eat Gourds?
Yes, pigs love to eat gourds and all types of Cucurbitaceae fruits, such as pumpkin. This type of fruit can provide a great source of fiber and improve the overall health of your pigs as it can help their immune system, and inflammation, improves circulation, provides stronger bones, and more.
But like always, please use the gourds only as a treat; remember that the pigs primary source of food should always be the pig feed or their corn-based diet.
Many farmers like to mix up the gourds with pigs feed or other types of fruits; if you can, I encourage you to also do it as this will motivate the pigs.
When pigs eat something else other than the pig feed, they experience a release of stress as they are eating something different; it helps them break out of the same routine.
It’s just like us; if you’ve been eating vegetables for months, if someone offers you a delicious grilled chicken or steak, you will definitely experience a boost in happiness.
So feel free to give them as many gourds as they want; your pigs will definitely thank you for it.