Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Artificial Breeding of Guinea Pigs
The guinea pig is native to the mountainous regions of Yunnan. It is a herbivorous mammal with a small body size (1.0-1.5 kg) and is used both as medicine and food. After 3-4 months of rearing, it reaches a body weight of 0.75 kg and is ready for market. Guinea pig meat is delicious and tender, easy to digest and absorb, and is regarded among the people as a “treasured tonic for strengthening the body”, and its fur can be processed and utilized.
1 Living Habits
The guinea pig has a gentle temperament and likes to live in groups. It is timid, easily startled, and sensitive to disturbance, with keen hearing. Its entire body is covered in black fur, with black eyes, a black mouth, black feet, and no tail. Its ears and limbs are short and small, and it is not good at jumping. It generally does not bite or scratch people. As long as rodents are kept out, it can be raised in uncovered cages or pens. In quiet conditions, sudden noises or the intrusion of people or other animals will cause the guinea pigs to become restless and frightened, so care should be taken to prevent startling them. When hungry, as soon as they hear the footsteps of the keeper, they will emit “zhizhi” squeaks, lively and adorable. When the female is in estrus, the male will coo “gulu, gulu” beside her, lowing in courtship and chasing. When a certain abnormal sound is encountered, the whole group will “gulu” in unison as a warning.
2 Rearing Facilities
There are many different methods for raising guinea pigs, adapted to local conditions. The commonly used methods are: cage rearing, flat pen rearing, and three-dimensional large-scale factory farming. (1) Cage rearing. This method can be used for small-scale rearing. Its advantages are that it allows control of breeding and feeding, and maintains cleanliness and hygiene. Cages can be made of wooden strips, bamboo slats, or wire, with dimensions of 60 cm × 50 cm × 40 cm being appropriate. (2) Flat pen rearing. This is suitable for use in single-story houses or where the shed is wide. Inside the house, bricks, wooden boards, and the like are used to partition off pens of 0.5-1.0 sq m in area. It is best to spread some wood shavings or dry grass in the pens to help with warmth retention and moisture absorption. This method is currently the most commonly used for rearing. (3) Three-dimensional factory farming. This is larger in scale, relatively concentrated, easy to manage and operate, and allows rearing of large numbers. Bricks, wood, or iron bars are used to build 3-5 tiers, with the bottom slightly sloped so that manure flows out, facilitating management. The pens and cages have small doors. With any rearing method, generally 8-10 young animals can be raised per sq m.
3 Feed Supply
The guinea pig has a very omnivorous feeding habit, and normal growth, development, and reproduction all require sufficient nutrition. Since the guinea pig is a herbivorous animal with a very high digestion rate of crude fiber, if it is not supplied with green feed or dried grass and other plants for a long period, molting will occur, so feeding should properly combine concentrated feed and green feed. (1) Concentrated feed: Concentrated feed is mainly cornmeal, wheat bran, rice bran, etc., and piglet pellet feed can also be fed. (2) Green feed: Fresh tender grass, such as elephant grass, corn leaves, sugarcane leaves, tree leaves, green vegetables, fruit peels, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.
4 Daily Management
Feeding management is the key to guinea pig breeding. Prevent feed from becoming moldy or spoiling; compound feed is best mixed and fed on the spot. When pellet feed is fed directly, provide clean water for drinking, or mix it with feed and feed it. Feed small meals frequently, with each adult animal receiving about 40 g of daily ration, fed twice a day, keeping the feed trough clean and hygienic. After feeding concentrated feed, also put in fresh green feed at the same time. Green feed is best cut and fed on the same day. Each adult animal consumes about 250 g of green feed per day. Prevent feeding green feed contaminated by pesticides and the like.
The rearing room should be kept quiet, with manure cleaned up every day, and utensils frequently scrubbed clean. Room temperature is best maintained at 18-25°C, with relative humidity of 45%-55%. Do a good job of keeping warm in winter. Prevent rodents and snakes from entering the rearing room, creating a comfortable environment for the guinea pigs. Keepers should be conscientious and responsible, pay attention to observation, and promptly handle any problems found. Female animals show sexual characteristics at about 45 days after birth, and males at about 70 days, but the initial mating period for females should be after 70 days to ensure the reproduction rate.
The gestation period of the guinea pig is 56-68 days, with a litter size of 1-6, or as many as 3-15. Young guinea pigs begin to eat 3-5 days after birth, and are weaned at about 15-20 days, then raised separately.