In the fascinating, blocky universe of Minecraft, understanding mob behavior is essential to mastering the game. Among the many friendly creatures you can encounter, pigs are one of the first passive mobs you’ll come across. These pink companions not only add charm to your world, but also serve practical uses such as providing food and acting as rideable animals when saddled. But what do pigs eat in Minecraft, and how can players breed and farm them effectively?
TL;DR:
Pigs in Minecraft eat carrots, potatoes, and beetroots. These foods can be used not only to attract and feed pigs, but also to breed them. To farm pigs effectively, players need a fenced area, a food source, and at least two pigs. Feeding two pigs one of these foods each will produce a baby piglet, and the cycle continues.
What Do Pigs Eat in Minecraft?
Pigs in Minecraft are not particularly picky eaters, but they have a defined list of edible items. If you want to interact with them in a meaningful way—whether it’s for farming, breeding, or riding—you’ll need to stock up on specific crops.
Pigs in Minecraft eat the following items:
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Beetroots
Each of these items can be used to:
- Attract pigs when you’re holding it (they’ll follow you)
- Feed pigs to regenerate a slight amount of health
- Facilitate breeding when two pigs are fed
Where to Find Pig Food
If you’re new to Minecraft or haven’t progressed far into the world, you might not have these pig-favorite crops ready to go. Here’s how to find them:
Carrots
- Occasionally dropped by zombies and zombie villagers
- Found in village gardens and can be replanted
Potatoes
- Also dropped by zombies and zombie villagers
- Common in village farms
Beetroots
- Grow in village farms, especially in plains and snowy tundra villages
- Beetroot seeds can be found in dungeons, Mineshaft chests, and end cities
How to Breed Pigs in Minecraft
Once you have the right food, breeding pigs is a simple yet rewarding task. Here’s how to do it step by step:
Steps:
- Gather two pigs – Either find them in the wild (usually in plains or forest biomes) or lure them into an enclosed area using any of their preferred foods.
- Prepare a safe space – Build a simple fenced pen to prevent them from wandering off or being attacked.
- Feed each pig – Equip one of their preferred foods and right-click (or tap) on each pig.
- Wait for the magic – Hearts will appear above their heads, and a baby piglet will spawn shortly after.
You’ll need to wait around five in-game minutes before the pigs can breed again. Baby pigs take around 20 minutes to become adults, but you can speed up their growth by feeding them more food.
Building a Pig Farm
Creating a pig farm is beneficial for a consistent source of food (porkchops), experience, and more fun interactions. Building an efficient pig farm doesn’t need to be complicated, and here’s how you can go about it:
Materials You’ll Need:
- Wooden fences or other barriers
- A gate for entry
- Carrots, beetroots, or potatoes for feeding and attracting pigs
- A saddle and carrot on a stick if you’re planning to ride one
Step-by-step Farming Tips:
- Choose a location: Flat areas like plains or meadows work best for open and accessible farming.
- Build a fence: Lay down fences in a square or rectangular shape and include a gate for easy access.
- Lure pigs into the pen: Hold out a carrot, beetroot, or potato and lead the pigs into your pen. Close the gate behind them.
- Start breeding: Once you have your pigs inside, feed them to begin creating offspring.
- Expand as needed: Build multiple pens or larger enclosures to keep population growth manageable.
Other Uses for Pigs
Besides being farmed for porkchops upon death, pigs have a fun and less obvious use: transportation. With the proper gear, players can ride pigs, adding a humorous alternative to horses and boats.
How to Ride a Pig:
- Find a pig and equip a saddle – A saddle must be placed on the pig by right-clicking while holding it.
- Craft a carrot on a stick: Combine a fishing rod with a carrot in the crafting table.
- Mount the pig: Right-click on the pig to ride it, then use the carrot on a stick to control its movement.
While this method is a little on the slower side compared to other forms of travel, it’s undeniably fun—and makes for great in-game stories or challenges!
Helpful Tips for Pig Farming
- Automate food collection: Use farms or villagers to help you gather carrots and potatoes efficiently.
- Keep zombies away: Build your pig pens with proper lighting and secure them to avoid hostile mob interference.
- Avoid overpopulation: Too many pigs in a small pen could result in lag or mob-capping issues. Keep your herds manageable.
Trivia: Fun Pig Facts in Minecraft
- Pig sounds in Minecraft are actually real pig noises recorded and edited.
- Originally, pigs were going to be used for transport exclusively until horses were introduced in version 1.6.1.
- A struck-by-lightning pig turns into a zombified piglin—be careful in thunder storms!
Conclusion
Pigs may seem like simple mobs in Minecraft, but they play a valuable role in farming, food production, and even transportation. Whether you’re building a sprawling livestock farm or just want to ride a pig into the sunset with your carrot on a stick, understanding what they eat and how they breed is key to making the most out of these lovable animals.
By mastering pig diet—carrots, potatoes, and beetroots—and setting up a basic farm, you’ll ensure a steady supply of resources and have some fun along the way. Whether you’re playing for survival or just building lavish fantasy farms in Creative Mode, pigs have a unique and useful spot in the Minecraft world.
