How to Breed Pigs in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Feed a carrot, potato or beetroot to each of two pigs to put them in love mode. A piglet spawns right away, the parents need 5 minutes before breeding again (1 minute in Bedrock), and you get 1-7 XP.

What you need

Carrots, potatoes or beetroots
2 pigs
A fenced pen

Step by step

Get carrots or potatoes from a village farm (or as rare zombie drops), or grow beetroot from village beetroot seeds. Any of the three works on pigs.
Hold the food so nearby pigs follow you - they come from about 10 blocks away (16 in Bedrock) - and lure two into a fenced pen.
Feed one item to each pig: hearts appear and a piglet spawns. You also get 1-7 XP.
The parents can breed again after 5 minutes (1 minute in Bedrock). The piglet grows up in 20 minutes; each carrot, potato or beetroot you feed it cuts the remaining time by 10%.
Harvest adults for raw porkchops, one of the best early-game foods. A carrot on a stick lures and steers saddled pigs, but cannot breed them.

Java vs Bedrock

Breeding works the same in Java and Bedrock except the parents' cooldown: 5 minutes in Java, 1 minute in Bedrock. Follow range is 10 blocks in Java and 16 in Bedrock.

Versions: Pigs are one of Minecraft's oldest mobs, added in Classic in September 2009, and could breed from Beta 1.9 (2011). Update 1.21.5 added warm and cold pig variants on top of the classic temperate pig.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to start a pig farm?

Raid a village farm for carrots, then hold one to lure two pigs home. Each breeding costs just one carrot per pig, and carrots replant straight into farmland with no crafting.

Can I breed pigs with a carrot on a stick?

No. A carrot on a stick only lures pigs and steers a saddled pig while you ride it. To breed, feed pigs loose carrots, potatoes or beetroots.

How long does a piglet take to grow up?

20 minutes. Feeding the piglet carrots, potatoes or beetroots cuts the remaining time by 10% per item.