Kunekune pigs are extraordinary animals to care for; these animals are found in New Zealand, but no one can say with evidence where they originated; some say they wear crosses of a Poland China pig, Berkshire, and some pigs from Indonesia.
Kunekune pigs, which is pronounced Cooney Cooney pigs, have the same characteristics as other pig breeds when it comes to eating, and that is, they can eat almost anything but, of course, with moderation.
Many people will grass-feed kunekune pigs, but they can also consume pig feed which should be their primary source of food. I will get into the details of some of the typical foods people like to offer, but I first want to give more detail regarding their overall diet and how you should treat it.
It’s very important for kunekune pigs to have a balanced diet. As I just mentioned, their primary source of food should be the pigs feed; anything else should only be used as a complement to their overall diet.
This type of pig bread can easily get overweight, and we have to make sure we avoid this; not following this guidance will potentially bring sickness and harm to your pigs.
Whether you have them for consumption or as a pet caring for their diet its just as important as their living conditions or other caring priority you have.
In fact, their diet should be your top priority.
What Do Kunekune Pigs Eat in the Winter?
Kunekune pigs have the same type of diet they eat during summer or any other season; as previously mentioned, their primary source of food should be the pigs feed or a corn-based diet. This is great for the winter month but also for summer.
Where you can be practical when thinking of seasonality and the things they can eat is, for example. During summer, it’s great to feed them refreshing foods that can help them with the hot summer days.
Fruits like watermelons and pineapple, especially after being in the freezer, will make your pigs really happy and will go crazy about it.
Also, during fall, you can find a lot of pumpkins, and I tell you, they just love it.
So whatever you have available during any season, you can feed to your kunekune pigs as long as you keep their primary source of nutrients in place.
You can also try preserving some of their favorite summer fruits or vegetables for the winter month and use them as treats. They will really appreciate this, especially if what you are giving them it’s not as common to find during the winter month.
What Do Baby Kunekune Pigs Eat?
Baby kunekune pigs should drink their mothers milk as soon as they are born, as they will transfer all the necessary nutrients they need in order to thrive. But also, drinking their mother milk will help strengthen their immune system, which is necessary if you want them to survive.
It’s very important for baby pigs, no matter the breed, to drink their mother’s milk; if they don’t, there is a risk of them not surviving.
In some cases, they won’t be able to drink their mother’s milk, whether because she is being aggressive or for whatever reason, but the fact is you will need to get them a substitute immediately. It’s not the best, but they will survive.
As your piggle grows, you can start introducing the pigs feed, the corn-based diet, fruits, and vegetables.
Now let’s get into the specifics of the type of foods pigs can eat; of course I can’t cover all of them, but I’ll try to cover the most frequent one.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Corn?
Yes,kunekune pigs can definitely eat corn. This is a great vegetable for them to have; it can be mixed with the pigs feed or any other vegetables you like.
In fact, many of the pig feed out there the base of their component is corn. Corn it’s great for pigs, and many other animals, so do feel comfortable giving it to them.
Many products are made from corn, and pigs can also eat them as long as they don’t have too much sugar or salt. Make sure they’ve been cooked as healthy as possible.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Meat?
Technically speaking kunekune pigs can eat meat, but you have to figure out if your state or country allows you to feed meat to pigs.
Some countries or states don’t allow pig owners to feed them scraps, and that includes meat.
The issue with feeding meat to pigs is that first, they can acquire some type of bacteria that could potentially sicken your pig, and this could spread among the pigs population and human population, so this is extremely dangerous.
This is why if you’re going to feed them meat, you have to make sure it is fresh and cooked.
The second issue with feeding them meat is that they can acquire a taste for it, and they might start targeting your chickens or any other animals you have on your farm.
So is it necessary? No, do I recommend it? No. Your pigs can definitely thrive without having to eat meat.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Raw Potatoes?
Pigs should eat cooked potatoes as raw potatoes can be difficult for them to digest. But in small portions, they can technically eat them.
They can also eat the potato peels, and potato chips, but they should never eat the potato plants as it can be poisonous to pigs and other animals.
But overall, potatoes are a great source of nutrients; they provide fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants; these are all good things for your pigs.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Oranges?
Yes, this type of pig bread can definitely eat oranges, as they are a great source of nutrients and vitamins.
They can be fed with other types of fruits, and you can even feed them to them with peels and everything.
Pigs can eat as many oranges as they want and as frequently; you just have to make sure they are always eating their pig feed as their primary source of food.
For the piggles, I do recommend cutting in half the oranges just to make it easier for them to consume.
Orange juice it’s also great for pig, but you have to make sure not to overdo it and avoid sugar as all cust; it’s not the same as giving them the fruit itself rather than just the juice.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Bananas?
Yes, pigs love to eat bananas; they can eat them with the peels or without them. This is a refreshing fruit you can use during summer for your pigs and even other animals.
Bananas contain a high amount of potassium, fiber, Vitamin C, Niacin, Copper, Protein, Folate, and many other vitamins and nutrients.
Bananas can also improvise the pigs digestive system, so you can definitely use them as much as possible for treats of nutritious purposes.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Celery?
Yes, pigs can definitely eat celery. This is a very nutritious vegetable for them to consume, and when it comes to vegetables, your pigs can eat as much as possible and frequently.
I recommend cutting the celery into small pieces and mixing it up with the pigs food.
But they can eat the celery leaves, celery juice, and whatever vegetable mix you have going on as long as it’s healthy.
Celery is a natural antioxidant that can provide a high amount of fiber and vitamin C, so I do recommend using it.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Hay?
Pigs can eat hay, but it’s not as nutritional as the pig fee or the corn-based diet. Some pig farmers like to add hay to the pigs diet to save on cost, but overall it won’t provide as many nutrients and calories as other foods.
Although many pig owners consider it to be better than just grass feeding your pigs, they also recommend it because it can be used during the winter month.
If you’re looking to use it, I recommend using a combination of hay and pigs feed; I previously wrote an article about it.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Eggs?
Yes, kunekune pigs can eat eggs, whether it’s raw, scrabble, or boiled. This is a great source of protein for pigs to have.
But to keep it as healthy as possible, I recommend cooking the eggs in your preferred way and try not to use salt.
Also, it is recommended that you break the eggs or crush the eggshells. You don’t want the pigs to know what they are eating because they might start targeting the Chinese eggs, and this can be a problem.
When pigs acquire a taste for a particular food, they would always want more.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Dog Food?
You know what they say, pigs can eat almost anything since they are omnivorous animals, and that includes dog food but also cat food. But even though they can eat it, I don’t recommend you feed it to them systematically.
Maybe during an emergency where you forgot to get the pigs feed, but other than that, do not even use it as a treat.
Dogs feed its very high in protein, and yes, pigs do need it, but overfeeding them this type of food could potentially put in danger your pigs overall health.
So it’s best not to use it; remember a balanced diet made for them it’s what’s best for pigs.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Chicken Feed?
Yes, pigs will also eat chicken feed, but in this case, it would be even better than that dog food because chicken feed is usually made of corn.
But look, even though they can eat this type of food, it would be best if you focus on the pig feed and don’t experiment too much with other animals’ food.
They can be used in emergencies like I previously explained, but the pig feed contains the necessary nutrients and vitamins a pig needs in order to grow strong and healthy; the other animal feed were not made for pigs.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Tomatoes?
Yes, kunekune pigs can definitely eat tomatoes. This is a great juicy vegetable great to use during the summer month.
But you should avoid using green tomatoes as it can be quite difficult for the pigs to digest, but you should also avoid feeding them tomatoes, plants, stems, leaves, or any part of the plant.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Grass?
Many people like to grass-fed the pig, and this is a great option when you’re looking to keep your pigs as healthy as possible.
But I also recommend using pig feed as it will provide greater benefits to their overall health, and it will also get your pigs bigger faster.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Watermelon?
Pigs love to eat watermelon. This is a delicious fruit you can use during summer, believe your pigs will go crazy when eating watermelon.
And they can eat all parts of the watermelon. I do recommend cutting them into small pieces just to make it easier for them to consume, but do feed them as much as they want to eat.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Grapes?
Yes, this is also another delicious fruit pigs can eat; you just have to make sure not to overfeed them with this type of fruit as it can contain high amounts of sugar, which is not good for pigs.
I don’t recommend giving them wine or grape drinks as they contain alcohol and sugar content. And the same applies to the grape desserts.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Lettuce?
Yes, most pigs will definitely eat lettuce, just like corn and other vegetables; this is a great option you can use with the pig feed or any other type of food you’ll like to mix it up with.
Lettuce contains a high amount of fiber which is great for the digestive system, and it’s also a great option to use during summer as 95% of its content is water.
Can Kunekune Pigs Eat Kiwi?
Yes, kunekune pigs can definitely eat kiwi; this is a great option to use if you’re trying to train your pigs, as it can be used as a treat. But you can also give it to them whenever you want to.
Pigs can also eat the kiwi skin and all parts of the fruit.
What Not to Feed Kunekune Pigs?
There is a general rule you can follow when trying to decide what your pigs should be eating or not.
You have to ask yourself if a human can eat what you are offering to your pig, and is it healthy for a pig to eat.
Pigs should not eat sugar or salt, or at least try keeping it as low as possible, especially the sugar content.
They should also avoid eating bones, fruit pits, green potatoes, processed foods, and rotten/moldy foods.
Conclusion: What Do Kunekune Pigs Eat?
Kunekune pigs are usually grass-fed, or they eat pig feed; this should be their primary source of nutrients, but they can also eat vegetables, meat, and fruits. Just like other pig breeds kunekune pigs should have a balanced diet, and we have to make sure to never overfeed them.
These types of breeds are prone to get fat easily, so do be careful in the types of food you are giving them.
It’s best to keep it as healthy as possible. This way, you will ensure your pigs will have a healthy life, but you will also guarantee a great pigs quality.
One thing to keep in mind when comparing these pigs with others, it can be more affordable when feeding as they are smaller, and they also should not be overfed. Of Course they do need sufficient nutrients, and they do consume less than other pig breeds.