Piggies No Longer Liking Oxbow Garden Select pellets

[Devout_Haruhiist]

Hi all! Never had this happen before so I figured I would ask here. Both of my piggies have been on Oxbow Garden Select brand pellets for their whole lives. As with most pigs, I usually had to limit pellets since they usually gorge themselves on them. But in the last few weeks I've noticed them only picking at them. They are still eating normally and while one of them has been sick (see my other thread on all of her ups and downs), they have generally been eating everything else fine. I thought maybe it was a bad bag but I've tried 2 other bags and the same only mild interest. Thinking about maybe switching? My vet said sometimes timothy based pellets can vary based on the harvest quality so maybe I am getting unlucky?

 

[piggieminder]

If they are eating other food it doesn't sound as if it's because they are ill which would be my first thought.
It could be harvest quality of the hay or have Oxbow changed the recipe? I've had this happen at times with Verselle Laga and Burgess pellets before I realised the pellets were slightly different. They did eventually go back to eating them after having something else in the meantime. I do wonder if they get bored with the same food?
Pellets aren't an essential part of the diet and it's recommended they don't have more than 1 tablespoon per pig per day so I wouldn't worry too much as long as they are eating plenty of hay and their usual veggies.

 

[rlsf]

I’m a bit late to reply on this post, but I am experiencing the same exact thing. I am on my second bag since their November/December bag and I’m convinced it must be the formula. I found a small ziplock of their previous one that I provided our sitter while we were on holiday (the bag before the presumed formula change) and yep, they were all over it and excited about those pellets. So my theory is a change. Pellets seem smaller now too.
I have a boy who has had bladder stone surgery in September, and ongoing dental disease, so I do actually need him to chew as much “hard” as possible. So pellets, though limited, are still necessary for us.
I snagged a bag of science selective along with a new bag of the garden select. Going to try a little mixture gently over the next week and see how they get on.
Very frustrating, though! Let me know if you’re piggos find something they’re more into

 

[Devout_Haruhiist]

Thanks for the reply! I was able to get them eating the "Organic Bounty" ones also from Oxbow but only for a little while before they got tired of those too and weren't as interested