So, Can Pigs Eat Oranges (or The Peelings)?

Out of all the different livestock species people commonly keep, I think there’s no question that pigs enjoy the most varied diet of them all. They get all different kinds of feed, grains, meat, and of course fruits and veggies. And speaking of fruit, you’ll often hear folks caution against giving livestock citrus fruits in particular.

They definitely have something of a tarnished reputation, but why is this? And how about something that’s sweet and wholesome like an orange? Can pigs eat oranges safely?

Yes, oranges and orange peels are safe and nutritious for pigs. But, they should only have them as a small part of their diet. Though packed with vitamins, they also have limonin-containing pips that can affect digestion if had in large quantities.

Look no further than the research we’ll go through in tis article to see that the supposed risks of citrus fruits are overblown if taken in small amounts… Yes, there is a limit to how many oranges they can have, but pigs can easily digest them, so there’s not reason why citrus fruits can’t be regulars in their diets…

You don’t need to be afraid of giving your hogs some sweet goodness in the form of oranges. I’ll tell you what you need to know below.

Do Pigs Like Oranges? What About Orange Peels?

Yes, pigs really seem to like oranges, in my experience! And although they prefer the sweet flesh above every other part, they are more than happy to eat the skin from what I’ve seen.

They may or may not eat the skins by themselves, but if you leave the skin on when feeding them orange slices, they’ll gobble them up with no problem.

Are Oranges Beneficial for Pigs?

Yes, oranges are definitely a healthy component of a pig’s diet. They are a decent treat with a good assortment of vitamins and a decent array of minerals.

Looking at the vitamin content first, we find a substantial amount of vitamin C, and oranges are one of the best sources for it. ON the other hand, hogs synthesize their own, and don’t really need it in their diet. We also find a small lineup of B complex vitamins in the form of B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and folate. Besides these, oranges have just a little bit of vitamin E and choline.

Concerning minerals, oranges aren’t that good of a source, either, but still a respectable one. Many are found in the peels so that’s a good reason to feed them to your pigs whole. Overall, they have iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and zinc, but none of them in large amounts.

Oranges in general, can boost the immune system and circulatory health and help livestock them deal with heat stress and low energy levels, but again, the concentrations are low enough not to make a huge difference to hogs…

Is Orange Flesh Safe for Pigs?

Yes, of course. The sweet, tender flesh of oranges is completely safe for pigs and a source of dietary fiber. Oranges are mostly water and, while they are recommended to humans because of their fiber content, they won’t make that much of a difference to your pigs…

Are Orange Peels Safe for Pigs?

Yes, they are, contrary to popular conception. Orange peels are sources of minerals and fibers. But, pigs tend to ignore the peels if they don’t have that sweet flesh attached, so you probably won’t have much luck feeding them the peels alone. Still, the rind is routinely used in livestock feed – though it is dried at 5% dried pulp and 10% dried matter.

Can Pigs Eat Whole Oranges?

Yes, they can. Larger pigs will happily eat whole oranges to get at the sweet flesh and juice inside, though it’s safer if you slice them for them because the pieces can sometimes stick to their esophagus. For smaller animals this is even more important: they might struggle to deal with whole oranges, so it’s always worth cutting them into halves or quarters at the least.

All in all, whole oranges can be a choking risk for hogs of all sizes.

Is Orange Juice Okay for Pigs?

OJ is fine for pigs in small amounts. There’s nothing in orange juice that’s directly bad for pigs – they couldn’t eat oranges otherwise – but you don’t want to give pigs a large quantity of orange juice to drink. OJ is not toxic to them, but the sugar can sometimes give them an upset stomach.

If you really want to give it to them, at least make sure that you”re not giving them anything store-bought, as bottled orange juice has a lot more sugar than freshly squeezed.

Are Cooked Oranges Okay for Pigs?

Yes, but there’s absolutely no reason to cook oranges before giving them to your pigs. Cooking is only going to reduce the already low amounts of vitamin C content (though most other vitamins will not degrade as much), but it won’t make them any more edible or appealing to them. Don’t waste your time, get on with life!

Are Oranges Poisonous or Harmful to Pigs in Any Way?

No, oranges are not poisonous to pigs, but you shouldn’t give them too many or any other very sweet food. Even though the sugars in oranges (sucrose, fructose, and glucose) are naturally occurring, these can add up if eaten in large quantities, and can sometimes cause digestive upset.

Now, regarding the acidity in oranges and other citruses, hogs can handle the acidity of oranges just fine as long as they aren’t getting them all the time or getting huge amounts.

To be clear, it is possible that eating a large quantity could irritate their digestive tract, causing diarrhea and other issues. But, these are relatively small concerns so long as you are disciplined and stick to the right schedule for treats and supplements when feeding your hogs.

How Often Can Pigs Eat Oranges?

Occasionally and in limited amounts is the name of the game when feeding oranges to pigs. At no point should they be eating a huge quantity of oranges in one sitting, and they shouldn’t be getting them every day even in smaller amounts.

There is some research saying that ensiled fresh pulp should be no more than 5 to 10% on a dry matter basis of their diets, which shouldn’t be a in issue on the homestead if you give them oranges as a treat.

Sadly there is no extension guideline for how many they can have, but as I said in the beginning, we do have some guidance saying that dried citrus pulp should be no more 5% of their diet, even though the same source mentions other studies where higher percentages were fine.

This is because going higher than that doesn’t necessarily affect the digestive system of the pigs, but it does affect other measures such as carcass yield.

My rule of thumb is that an adult pig can have one or two, large orange up to twice a week. Consider reducing the portion size for younger pigs or smaller breeds. Try it like this and see they’re feeling well after having them.

How Can I Feed My Pigs Oranges?

The very best way to serve oranges to your pigs is sliced into halves or into quarters. If you want to make it go further or only give them as treats, you can slice each orange up into its constituent sections. No need to worry about removing the seeds if you give them oranges as occasional treats – unless you give them more than what I recommend, or more often.

Now, about the peel, pigs will eat them if you leave the flesh on, but they’re a lot less likely to have the peels by themselves. If you want your herd to eat the whole thing and the most nutrients from the orange, leave the peel on.

Can Piglets Have Oranges, Too?

Yes, but as a precaution measure, you should wait until they are on solid foods as their usual diet, and even then, you want to give piglets a very small quantity.

Piglets have more sensitive stomachs compared to adults, so their gut fermentative capacity is not yet at a maximum. and the Sugars in oranges are also more likely to affect them, which is problematic for baby pigs because they dehydrate much quicker if they come down with diarrhea.

Give them a small portion as a treat and watch them to see how they do. If it looks like it causes any problems, just give them time to grow up a bit.

Note that this advice does NOT apply to miniature pigs, because they are not the same with piglets! Let’s talk about them just below.

Further Questions…

Are oranges OK for mini pigs?

Yes, oranges are safe for mini pigs according to all the recommendations above. Just be sure to reduce the portion sizes in accordance with their smaller size.

Are oranges safe for potbelly pigs?

Yes, they sure are. However, be careful about feeding potbelly pigs too much sweet stuff, even fruit, because they have a tendency to put on unhealthy amounts of weight.

You might be surprised to hear that citric acid is actually recommended for potbellies to help alleviate some urinary tract issues – to prevent infections and kidney stones.

They actually say a regular source of citric acid is recommended, but they don’t give any amounts and I couldn’t find more research backing their claims. So I would wait for more research but, if you want, you can give your potbelly a few bites of orange pulp every now and them.

Are oranges safe for Kunekune pigs?

Yes, they are. Oranges are also safe for Kunekune pigs.