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Can Pigs Eat Moldy Bread?

We all know pigs’ eating habits have no limits, they can definitely eat anything you give them, and their hunger seems to never end; they really are extraordinary creatures. 

But the reality is that there are things that shouldn’t be eaten, and if they do, it might put their lives in danger. 

In this article, I share whether or not your pigs should be eating moldy bread.

Let’s start with the short answer. 

Pigs should never eat moldy bread; mold bread could be toxic to pigs and doesn’t have any nutritional value. Feeding this type of food to your pigs and animals could potentially cause you some problems with health organizations and local authorities. 

It’s very important to keep the pigs diet under the recommended parameters. 

Can Pigs Eat Moldy Bread?

You may hear stories of people feeding moldy bread to their pigs, and they will tell you that nothing happens to their pigs, but any person that cares for their pigs or animals will never feed moldy or rotted food to their pigs. 

This practice is even prohibited in many states and countries, especially if you have a pig farm.

Remember that you or some other person will be eating these pigs, and by feeding them this type of food, you run the risk of getting people sick. 

And let’s not mention that when a pig is sick, the diseases can spread quite easily through the pig community. 

So you’re not only doing it for the well-being of the pigs but also the humans.

Another thing to consider is that you might think only a small portion of the bread is moldy, but in reality, there could be microscopic roots intertwined throughout the bread, and this could also be dangerous. 

It’s always best to stick with healthy and fresh foods when it comes to the pigs diet.

In the long run, you’ll have healthier pigs and more delicious meat quality for you and your customer. 

Will Pigs Eat Moldy Bread?

Yes, pigs will definitely eat moldy bread if given the opportunity; remember, most pigs don’t hesitate to eat. 

And how it works is that they will eat the food first and after figure out if they like it or not. But all jokes aside, they won’t notice if the food or bread is moldy, especially if it’s a small part of the bread or if it’s mixed with other types of food. 

So be careful and keep your pigs away from the trash can.

It can be ironic since there is this common misconception that pigs can eat trash or any food waste, but in reality, pigs should enjoy a healthy diet. 

And yes, it’s true that they will eat almost anything you feed them but remember they have to improvise, they’re not in the wild, and they must feed themselves. But if it’s under your control, you should feed them the pig feed, vegetables, fruits, and carbs. 

Always make sure it is fresh and healthy. 

Can Pigs Get Sick by Eating Moldy Bread?

As previously mentioned, yes, pigs can get sick by eating moldy bread or foods; the neurotoxins on old bread and foods, in general, can definitely get your pigs sick. 

Some common signs of sickness are vomiting or diarrhea. 

If this is the case, I recommend calling the vet and ensuring he does some testing on your pigs.

It’s crucial that if your pigs are sick, you take them to the vet as soon as possible; knowing what they have can help you prevent the worst scenario for you and your pigs. 

What Not to Feed Pigs? 

As you know by now, pigs can eat almost anything, but there are some types of food we should avoid feeding to our pigs for their health and longevity. 

Some of the food I’m about to mention, if eaten in small quantities it won’t put the life of your pig in danger but is best to avoid since they can be fatal in some cases. 

But the most important thing is that we would not want our pigs to acquire a taste for something that might be toxic to them. 

Sure, this is rare as pigs usually have an instinct to avoid dangerous foods. But since we are dealing with domesticated animals, it’s best to be safe. 

Here is a list of foods you should avoid feeding your pigs. 

  • Processed Foods
  • Kale
  • Cherry Pits
  • Parsley
  • Chocolate
  • Eggplant
  • Goji berries
  • Peppers
  • Celery Tops
  • Uncooked parsnip Greens
  • Rhubarb
  • Tomato leaves and vines
  • Unpitted stone fruits 
  • White Potato
  • Raw Meat
  • Raw Cashews
  • Uncooked Sweet Potato
  • Corn Stalks 
  • Raw Eggs
  • Cherry Pits
  • Broccoli roots, leaves, and vines
  • Cabbage roots, leaves, and vines
  • Turnip roots, leaves, and vines
  • Animal products of any kind
  • Avocado skin and pits
  • Unshelled walnuts
  • Finally, let’s not forget about foods with salt and sugars.

Pigs can get salt poisoning, usually because of water deprivation or just by eating too much food with salt, so it’s important to keep the salt low, but what’s best is to avoid it. 

And the problem with sugar is that it will put you pigs overweight, and we don’t want that as this will cause other health issues. 

Conclusion: Can Pigs Eat Moldy Bread?

Moldy bread can be toxic to pigs, so you should avoid feeding this type of food to your pigs or any other animals. If you do so, you run the risk of getting your pigs sick and potentially losing them. But also, if the pigs are sick and you or someone else eats their meat, they might also get sick. 

You should be very careful with this, especially if you have a pigs farm; the law is not merciful when it comes to this type of issue. 

It is your responsibility to feed healthy and fresh food to these animals.

Especially if the purpose of these pigs is to end up at some diner table. 

No matter how small the mold part may be, it’s always best not to feed it to your pigs. 

But even if we are talking about your pet pig, I’m sure you don’t want your friend to be sick, so just avoid this type of food at all costs.