Chocolate is a favorite among many for its sweet and complex taste, coming from the cocoa bean which is roasted and blended with milk and sugar to create most chocolate. Chocolate is consumed in many forms the popular being chocolate bars and hot chocolate drinks. The main ingredients in chocolate pose no harm to pigs so pigs can safely consume chocolate. Pigs can eat a wide variety of human foods as they are omnivores like us, humans, without any effects on their growth and health.
Contents
History of Chocolate
Chocolate was first introduced to the modern world by the Spanish explorers from South America where it was revered by the Maya and Aztecs as a drink for the gods. The native South Americans used chocolate as a ceremonial drink, it didn’t contain sugar or milk like the modern versions and hence was quite bitter. The English are known to have started adding milk to reduce the bitterness and reduce the amount of cacao added leading to more widespread consumption. Today globally, almost seven and a half million tons of chocolate are consumed annually. I doubt the ancient Mayans would have ever thought of giving chocolate to pigs although they raised breeds of hairless pigs.
Typical Nutritional Profile of Chocolate
It is quite difficult to come up with a modern typical analysis for chocolate as it has taken many forms on its journey around the world. However, there are some similarities that we can mention that can help in evaluating its usefulness for feeding pigs. Typically, its high in carbohydrates from the sugar that is added to make it sweet, giving it a high energy content also due to the fat contained in the cocoa beans. Due to the different formulations used to make different forms of chocolate, it is difficult to come up with an average energy content per gram of chocolate fed. Before feeding chocolate commercially it is advisable to do a full laboratory analysis for major nutrients like energy, protein, and fiber. Because pigs are not fussy eaters they will readily go for chocolate in any form and convert the energy to meat.
Ingredients
Most chocolate is made from cocoa beans with amounts varying according to the quality of the intended finished product, cheaper versions tend to have very little cocoa and are loaded with sugar. White chocolate does not contain cocoa but only the cocoa butter extracted from the cocoa beans, so is technically not chocolate but for discussion, we will term it chocolate. Although various other ingredients like nuts can be included to differentiate one chocolate brand or bar from another they still have the same basic ingredients cocoa, sugar, and milk. This gives a product that is loaded with sugar and sometimes fat which is a quick energy boost. Pigs and humans share a very similar digestive system hence; chocolate is perfectly safe for pigs in moderation just like in humans.
Can Pigs Eat Chocolate By-products?
So much chocolate is produced in the world to such an extent that there are a lot of by-products produced from its manufacture and distribution. All chocolate that is rejected and deemed not suitable for human consumption can be fed to pigs of all classes but mostly to piglets to replace milk whey. Milk whey is a common ingredient in piglet diets acting as a milk replacer but it is quite expensive and studies have shown that chocolate can replace up to 20% milk whey in piglet diets. Piglets benefited from the lactose and sugar in the chocolate and preferred the feeds with chocolate over those with milk whey. The caramelized sugars in chocolate also give the feed a pleasant smell which could be the reason for higher intakes. Chocolate by-products can also be fed in the diets of growing and adult pigs up to 30% without any effect on the growth performance of the pigs. There was also no observed impact on the meat quality of pigs fed chocolate.
Cocoa Husks
Cocoa husks may not necessarily qualify as chocolate but a lot are produced in the making of chocolate and can be fed to piglets to aid in digestion as they are high in fiber. The cocoa husks are also high in polyphenols which reduce oxidative stress in pigs and help improve meat quality. Tannins also present in the chocolate itself can have an effect on digestibility, but again feeding in moderation is the key.
Can Pigs Eat Confectionery?
Apart from chocolate, pigs can be fed a wide array of other sweet treats like confectionery bakery waste, rejected candy, and molasses from sugar processing. Confectionery just like chocolate contains sugar and milk and helps provide energy for fattening pigs. The addition of these wastes can reduce the feeding cost of pigs significantly improving the profitability of the enterprise.
Can Pigs get Diabetes?
In humans’ excessive sugar consumption has been blamed for causing type 2 diabetes, although this can happen in pigs the chances are very low and rare. This could be due to their genetics or their ability to store large amounts of belly fat, without any issues. This fat is normally reserved as an energy store in times of insufficient feed availability.
Constraints of Feeding Chocolate to Pigs
The first constraint of giving chocolate to pigs is the price, where no rejects or by-products are available it can only be given as an occasional snack and not part of the overall diet. The second constraint is the high sugar content in some chocolates which can lead to digestive upsets and scours in younger pigs if fed in excess. Chocolate does contain a chemical similar to caffeine called theobromine the concentrations when fed to pigs in moderation are not significant enough to cause any issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pigs can eat chocolate and some chocolate by-products, depending on supply and pricing it can be given as a snack or included in the feed as part of a balanced ration for all classes of pigs. In young pigs, chocolate can replace expensive milk whey and the piglets enjoy it more than whey, with reduced morbidity in pigs fed chocolate. There are also no effects on the overall meat quality of pigs fed chocolate, although it would have been interesting to have a chocolate flavored pork chop on the grill.
