Swine Diets

Whether wild or domesticated, many swine species have the same nutritional requirements. Swine are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Domestic swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) come in many shapes, sizes and color patterns. Domestic breeds include Swedish landrace, Tibetan, red wattle, American Yorkshire, Berkshire, Arapawa Island and Herefords. A few wild swine include the bearded pig (Sus barbatus), Heude's Pig (Sus bucculentus) and the Javan Pig (Sus verrucosus).

  1. Fruit and Nuts

    • Wild and domestic swine will eat acorns, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and other nuts. Fruit and berries also make it into menus.

    Mushrooms

    • Hogs will eat several types of mushrooms including morels, grisettes and russulas. Truffle hunters employ specially trained pigs to find the expensive fungi.

    Insects

    • Using their sensitive snout, swine root up various types of grubs, worms and other insects. These fatty, protein-packed morsels help the hogs to fatten up for winter.

    Roots

    • Different types of roots, tubers, bulbs and corms make it into a hog's stomach throughout the year. Hogs are fond of potatoes and can cause damage to crops.

    Common Domestic Swine Feed

    • Domestic swine often eat corn and grain diets. The use of corn and grain is in an inexpensive way to fatten up hogs in preparation for slaughter. Protein often comes from fish meal.

    Carrion

    • Though not a large part of their diet, hogs are opportunistic feeders and aren't opposed to scavenging carrion and trash heaps.