[Hilarysmum]

I know pigs should never be fed onions, although I dont know why.  Our accidental pet pig who is the best fed on the holding, was found happily munching on a load of boiled onions I had thrown onto the compost heap (and buried).  I have never known a pig to actively search out and eat onions.  Does anyone know if it will have any adverse effects.  So far he hasnt been sick and his output is normal.  Thanks

[AWP]

In my pig book is says pigs can eat onions as long as they're cooked!!, not sure about raw ones though!!

[dixie]

As far as I know onions, daff bulbs etc are poisonous to animals. Whether cooking changes that I dont know.

[Wizard]

I have never had any trouble with raw or cooked onions I have fed to pigs.Now Daffs tulips crocus all of those are poisonous to pigs and you

[dixie]

Just had a bit of a search and it seems onions are ok for pigs but advisable not to feed them on the run up to slaughter in case it taints the meat!

[Pigglewiggle]

Our pigs wont touch onions or leeks, I haven't heard anything about pigs not being supposed to eat onions..Have heard they shouldn't eat parsnips tho ...

  Debbie
 
   

[Hilarysmum]

Thanks all much relief  here.  Pig is fine, although his flatulence is a bit ripe at present.  I read it somewhere pigs not being fed onions;  shall stop worrying now.  I know parsnips can cause blisters in the mouth. 

[dixie]

I was told, cant remember who by, not to feed them onions! but I do give them parsnips, never heard about danger there!

[oaklandspigs]

The "not to eat onions" might come from a story that does the rounds of a farmer who grazed his pigs for the final months before slaughter on an onion field after harvest.  The pigs found and polished off all the remaining onions. When killed the meat was inedible, tasting strongly of onion and nothing else.

I have not fed onions (we don't grow them) but would not worry about a few.

I have fed parsnips from the veg patch occasionally - most of our pigs don't like them but someone will always eat anything! - without ill effect, but suspect that this is also related to large quantities eg putting a herd on a field of parsnips might cause blisters. If someone has further details then I would be interested in knowing this.

Have just googled, and found a study which fed ionions (not for nutrition or taste) which does tend to indicate no problem

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18364076

Stonehead (who is very experienced) also has a blog on this

http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/can-pigs-be-fed-with-onions/



Farming friends quotes the Pigsite on parsnips - which tends to indictae that it is the top of the parsnip that causes issues

http://farmingfriends.com/pigs-cant-eat-parsnips/

[dixie]

Yes I read stoneheads too, I only get a few onions so will give them then, parsnip dont come with tops on and mine all eat them, no probs to date!

[Malc]

Our Saddlebacks won't touch raw onions or leeks, but like them boiled. Our parsnip crop has failed for the last two years so we haven't tried them - a sore point.

[Wizard]

I musta been lucky I cannot remember anything our pigs wouldn't eat I got into trouble on RCC for this but I assure you its the approved way of dealing with the yard cats.I shall etta goo I've a sow about to farrow I shall etta nod me eaad at the wall fost I'm otta tonup chips its all goo and then I've a ketch "o" kittens to dround.Hey up how do you drown your mini moggies then.Well I git 2 2gallon pails half fill one wi watter and fill the other to ower flowin I drop em in the half full pail and put the full pail on top When I goo to feed the pigs I empty the half full pail on the barley meal Saves me diggin a ole to berri em.Oooooooohhhhhhhh.

[Hilarysmum]

Sorry Wizard I find that sort of humour rather lacking in taste. 

[Wizard]

Sorry Hilary's mum It is not intended as humour it was in yesteryear how it was done my Grandfather and Father always did it that way

[dixie]

Everyone had a cat then to keep the mice down, my Mum grew up believing that each time the cat had kittens the mother killed them because my mum and her sisters looked at them, how sad. It wasnt until years later she realised it was nothing to do with looking at them and it was in fact my grandfather that had drowned them, sadly it happened then it was the only way they knew how.