Potbellied Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

"Potbellied pigs are a domesticated breed of pets that make loving and relaxed if not conventional household companions. One of the keys to ensuring a positive potbellied pig experience is proper diet. These piggies are usually not shy when it comes to food. Just make sure you always give your cutie only food formulated exclusively for potbellied-pigs -- no exceptions."

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Diet and Nutrition:

Potbellied pigs have recently become a new favorite for domestic pets, although there is little information regarding what to feed them. There are many owner forums and hobbyist sites suggesting diets for these pigs, but there is not a published species' nutrient requirement. Pigs require a diet consisting of a chow low in protein (12-14%) and low in fat. Many websites suggest feeding these omnivore creatures a daily mix of Mazuri Pig Pellets and fresh vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, or cucumbers. Fruits should be only given as treats and are recommended in small doses of about 2 teaspoons twice a week. Fruits are high in sugar and calories and can cause weight issues in the breed. For this same reason it is highly important to not overfeed your pet pig or feed it human food. This could cause many digestive issues. When training your pig (housebreaking, tricks) it is OK to use cheerios in moderation.

So what do you feed your piggy? Depending on the weight of one's pig greatly alters the amount of each feed it should consume daily. I based my calculations on a 70 lb, domestic potbellied pig. I recommend feeding this pig a daily amount of 500 gram Mazuri Pig Pellets, 100 grams of Romaine lettuce, and 50 grams of fresh carrots. This diet can be broken down in to two or three meals dispersed throughout the day. This diet provides the following nutrient composition on a dry matter basis:

DM: 69.4%

CP: 11.8%

EE: 3.8%Ca: 1.8%

P: 2.3%

NDF: 12.7%

I compared this diet with the nutrient requirement for swine and it met the species' requirements and exceeded in some nutrients such as Calcium and Phosphorus. I would recommended my suggested diet to all pet pot-belly piggies but would alter amount of food based on your pig's weight and size. Mazuri recommendations are posted on their website.