A Detailed Guide to Hedgehog Farming Methods and Selling Prices
The whole hedgehog is a treasure, and wild hedgehogs have already been listed as second-class protected animals, but the medicinal value of hedgehogs determines their market demand, so many people now want to farm them artificially, and artificial farming requires mastering its methods, otherwise it will bring certain farming risks. Below, the editor will join everyone in a comprehensive look at hedgehogs.
Hedgehog Farming Methods
1. Production Technical Plan
Hedgehog farming mainly adopts the pen-raising method. Because hedgehogs are cheap, have strong adaptability, and are easy to raise, the farming technology is not complicated, and there is much experience in China that can be drawn on. The basic production process is: build sheds→build burrows→disinfect→introduce breeding stock→deworm→complete feed→disease prevention and control→marketing. Hedgehogs have few diseases and no infectious diseases. As long as feeding management and hygiene measures are proper, hedgehogs rarely get sick. The main diseases are enteritis, ringworm, and parasites, which are very easy to treat and will not pose any major risk. Feed formulas are also easy to master.
2. Production Scale
To design an annual output of 10,000 commercial hedgehogs, about 2,000 breeding hedgehogs need to be introduced and bred, half male and half female. Because hedgehogs go into estrus 1—2 times per year, with about 5 per litter and up to 8, as long as food supply is sufficient and management is proper, 2 reproductions can be achieved every year, and the production scale can reach 10,000. Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity at 2—3 years of age, mostly emerge from hibernation in March, go into estrus and mate in April, and the gestation period is about 60 days. The survival rate of the young is almost 100%.
3. Site Construction Conditions
Old houses can be converted into hedgehog farms, or a site can be built on barren hills or wasteland with flat terrain, dry air, a quiet environment, convenient transportation, and complete water and electricity. Generally, each pair of breeding hedgehogs needs 1.5 sq m of rearing housing, divided into bright and dark parts, with length, width, and height of 1.6 m, 0.6 m, and 0.65 m respectively. For commercial hedgehogs, 30 animals/10 sq m. Because the rearing housing is simple, the rearing density is relatively high, the requirements are not high, and the site is not large, the infrastructure investment is not large.
4. Raw Material Resources
Hedgehogs are omnivorous animals. Pen-raised hedgehogs mainly use compound feed. Meat scraps, grain and by-products, green vegetables, etc. can be mixed in proportion to meet normal needs. Feed raw materials are available everywhere and are low in price. Their basic mixing ratio is 5:4:1.
5. Source of Breeds
Because there is currently no professional farm in China that raises hedgehogs on a large scale, there is no breeding stock to introduce, and the source of breeding stock can only come from wild capture and purchasing. Purchasing can begin after they emerge from hibernation in March.
6. Product Sales
Hedgehogs can be sold in various ways: first, entrusted sales, by finding agents in farmers' markets in Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and other places to sell on consignment; second, opening up markets for direct sales yourself, by setting up hedgehog hot pot restaurants, linking up with hotels for sales, or directly finding buyers for export sales; third, selling breeding stock, according to the market rule of “having what others do not,” selling hedgehog breeding stock and training students in the first few years will surely bring great returns; fourth, deep processing to add value. Processing into Chinese medicinal materials, convenience foods, tourism foods, health products, etc. can become an independent industry and achieve multi-level development and value addition.
Hedgehog Selling Prices
The price of hedgehogs is generally from several tens to several hundred yuan each, with prices varying from place to place. It is worth noting that the hedgehog is a protected wild animal in Beijing, and the Heilongjiang hedgehog is one of 136 species of second-class protected animals and is protected by law. At the same time, this species has been included in the “List of Terrestrial Wild Animals Protected by the State That Are Beneficial or Have Important Economic or Scientific Research Value” issued by China's State Forestry Administration on August 1, 2000. Illegal hunting and trafficking of wild animals protected by the state will be subject to legal sanctions.
Processing and Storage of Hedgehogs
Hedgehog skin can be processed in all four seasons, but it is generally considered best to process in winter. First bleed the hedgehog to be processed, then use a knife to cut open the belly and peel off the skin. Spread the head and the two hind feet open in a three-point position, pull tight and nail to a wooden board, scrape off the fat, place in a ventilated and dry place, and let it dry naturally in the shade. It must not be sun-dried, to avoid loss of oil. After drying, place it in a lime jar for storage.
Hedgehog Farming Costs and Profits
1. Costs: hedgehog young (self-bred and self-raised) 22 yuan each, compound feed calculated at a 3.5:1 feed-to-meat ratio, feed cost for 1 kg of body weight 6.3 yuan, epidemic prevention fee 0.2 yuan each, wages and benefits 3 yuan each, depreciation 1 yuan each, management fee 0.5 yuan each, other expenses 2 yuan each. The cost price of raising a commercial hedgehog to 1 kg for marketing is 35 yuan, and for 10,000 animals it is 350,000 yuan.
2. Income: calculated at 100 yuan/kg, 10,000 animals is 1 million yuan.
3. Profit: 1 million - 350,000 = 650,000 yuan.
Hedgehog Disease Prevention and Control
Common diseases of hedgehogs include gastroenteritis, ascariasis, and ringworm.
For hedgehogs suffering from gastroenteritis, the spines are dull, walking is weak, they have diarrhea, and they refuse food. The feed amount can be reduced, and oxytetracycline can be fed, 1 tablet per animal each time crushed and mixed into the feed, fed 3 times a day. Gentamicin can also be injected, 25,000 units each time by intramuscular injection in the buttock.
For hedgehogs suffering from ascariasis, with poor appetite and drowsiness and weakness, piperazine can be fed, 2 times a day, 1 tablet each time, for 2 consecutive days. For hedgehogs that do not have ascariasis, deworming should also be done 2 times a year to ensure healthy growth of the hedgehogs and improve reproductive capacity. To check whether a hedgehog is strong, first look at the glossiness of the spines, second look at whether the body is plump, and third look at whether the spine ball is tight.
For hedgehogs suffering from ringworm, with peeling white scaly skin, ringworm ointment or Fuqing ointment can be applied externally. Alternatively, soak tobacco shreds in vinegar for 24 hours, then add crushed trichlorfon and mix in to apply to the affected area.
Hedgehogs can be said to be relatively easy to farm. Hedgehogs have relatively strong adaptability, and as long as feeding management is good, farming hedgehogs well is not a problem. However, disease prevention and control for hedgehogs still need attention. When symptoms of illness are found, effective measures must be taken immediately to prevent seriousness and large-scale infection. In short, farming has risks, and technology is the basic condition for reducing risks.