Healthy Herbs for Pigs

In our herbal pursuits, we work hard to provide our livestock with the healthiest diets, just like we do for our own family. After all, they are an extension of our family, and it makes us happy and fulfilled to see our animals thriving here on our farm!

So far, we’ve learned about several plants that are super healthy for our pigs, and food they seem to fully enjoy. Animals tend to know what herbs are good for them and how much of them to eat. However, we always research a new plant before offering it to our animals, and we watch closely to see how they react over the days following consumption. The action of most herbs is quite gentle, and lasts only days, so we introduce slowly until we feel comfortable. Here is a list of our top favorites from 2023!

• Plantain

• Comfrey

• Raspberry & Blackberry leaves and fruit

• Sweet Annie

• Gotu Kola (I grow this fresh from seed in our Greenhouse as it cannot overwinter here in Maine)

• Fenugreek Seed (for nursing mothers in their feed).

Here is the article I found before putting it to the test, which it passed with flying colors!! In 2.5 years of pasturing our pigs on our acreage, the vet’s fecal tests have all come back with zero parasites. We do not use conventional dewormers, but instead, Pumpkin and Beets. So far, so good!