What are the methods for choosing a site for black guinea pig farming?

There are many different raising methods, adapted to local conditions. The commonly used methods are: cage raising, flat pool-style pen raising, and three-dimensional large-scale factory farming. Farmers can choose a farming model that suits their own conditions. Some farming models require high investment costs, but return high profits.

How to choose a site for farming black guinea pigs

Cage raising: this raising method can be used for small-scale raising. Its advantages are that it can control breeding and feeding, and maintain cleanliness and hygiene. The cage can be made of wooden strips, bamboo strips, or wire, with a size of 60 cm × 50 cm × 40 cm being suitable.

Flat pool-style pen raising: suitable for use in single-story houses with a wide shed. The room is divided with bricks, wooden boards, etc. into pools with an area of 0.5-1 sq m. It is best to spread some wood shavings or straw in the pool, which helps with warmth and moisture absorption. At present, most farmers use this method for raising.

Three-dimensional factory-style raising: its scale is relatively large and relatively concentrated, making it easy to manage and operate, and allowing a large number to be raised. Use bricks or wood and iron strips to make 3-5 layers, with the bottom slightly slanted so that manure flows out, making management convenient. There are small doors in the pools and cages. Generally, the number to stock is determined according to the size of the cage or shed. With a low density, 8-10 animals per sq m; with a high density, 10-20 animals. Generally, one 100 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 4 females; an 80 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 3 females; a 60 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 2 females; a 45 cm × 35 cm unit can hold 1 male and 1 female. For pool raising and box raising, stocking should be appropriately sparser.

Before stocking black guinea pigs, the housing should be spray-disinfected with a 0.02% potassium permanganate solution. Black guinea pigs love cleanliness, so whether raised in pens or cages, the environmental hygiene of the raising room must be well maintained. Feeding troughs should be cleaned regularly to prevent food from becoming moldy, ensure that feed and drinking water are fresh, and prevent wild rats, cockroaches, and the like from contaminating feed and drinking water.

Living habits of black guinea pigs  

Black guinea pigs originated in the mountainous areas of Yunnan in China. They belong to the class Mammalia and the order Rodentia. Their body size is moderate (0.75-1.25 kg), their limbs are thick and short, their head is blunt and round, their snout is relatively large, their eyes are small and their ears are short, and their claws are relatively long. Their notable features are black hair over the whole body, black eyes, black ears, and black feet, with no tail. They are not good at jumping and generally do not bite or scratch people. Black guinea pigs are gentle in temperament, like to live in groups, have keen hearing, and are timid and easily frightened and disturbed. Black guinea pigs make different calls under different circumstances. For example, when the female is in heat, the male makes a "gulu, gulu" courtship sound, and when hungry, upon hearing footsteps, they make a "ji ji" squeaking sound.

Raising methods for black guinea pigs  

1. Raising equipment: There are many different raising methods for black guinea pigs, adapted to local conditions. The commonly used methods are cage raising, flat pool-style pen raising, and three-dimensional large-scale factory raising.  

① Cage raising. This raising method can be used for small-scale raising. Its advantages are that it can control breeding and feeding, and maintain cleanliness and hygiene. The cage can be made of wooden strips, bamboo strips, or wire, with a size of 60 cm × 50 cm × 40 cm being suitable.  

② Flat pool-style pen raising. Suitable for use in single-story houses with a wide shed. The room is divided with bricks, wooden boards, etc. into pools with an area of 0.5-1 sq m, with a pool height of 0.35 m. It is best to spread some wood shavings or dry grass in the pool, which helps with warmth and moisture absorption. At present, this method is mostly used for raising.  

③ Three-dimensional factory-style raising. Its scale is relatively large and relatively concentrated, making it easy to manage and operate, and allowing a large number to be raised. Use bricks or wood and iron strips to make 3-5 layers, with the bottom slightly slanted so that manure flows out, making management convenient. There are small doors in the pools and cages. For various raising methods, generally with a low density, 8-10 animals per sq m; with a high density, 10-20 animals.  

2. Feed supply: Black guinea pigs have very miscellaneous feeding habits, and normal growth, development, and reproduction all require sufficient nutrition. Because black guinea pigs are herbivorous animals and have a relatively high digestion rate for crude fiber, if they are not supplied with green feed or dried grass and other plants for a long time, they will develop skin peeling, so feed supply should be mainly green feed, with green feed and concentrate appropriately matched. Green feed includes fresh tender wild grass, forage grass, corn leaves, sugarcane leaves, tree leaves, green vegetables, fruit peels, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. Concentrate feed is mainly cornmeal, wheat bran, rice bran, etc. A commonly used feed formula: cornmeal 40%, rice flour 10%, wheat bran 29%, peanut shell powder 15%, fish meal and bone meal 2% each, salt and growth promoter 1% each. Piglet pellet feed can also be fed.

Preparation of the black guinea pig farming site  

First is the raising facilities. There are many different raising methods for black guinea pigs, adapted to local conditions. The commonly used methods are: cage raising, flat pool-style pen raising, and three-dimensional large-scale factory farming.  

1. Cage raising. This raising method can be used for small-scale raising. Its advantages are that it can control breeding and feeding, and maintain cleanliness and hygiene. The cage can be made of wooden strips, bamboo strips, or wire, with a size of 60 cm × 50 cm × 40 cm being suitable.  

2. Flat pool-style pen raising. Suitable for use in single-story houses with a wide shed. The room is divided with bricks, wooden boards, etc. into pools with an area of 0.5-1 sq m. It is best to spread some wood shavings or dry grass in the pool, which helps with warmth and moisture absorption. At present, this method is mostly used for raising.  

3. Three-dimensional factory-style raising. Its scale is relatively large and relatively concentrated, making it easy to manage and operate, and allowing a large number to be raised. Use bricks or wood and iron strips to make 3-5 layers, with the bottom slightly slanted so that manure flows out, making management convenient. There are small doors in the pools and cages. Generally, the number to stock is determined according to the size of the cage or shed. With a low density, 8-10 animals per sq m; with a high density, 10-20 animals. Generally, one 100 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 4 females; an 80 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 3 females; a 60 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 2 females; a 45 cm × 35 cm unit can hold 1 male and 1 female. For pool raising and box raising, stocking should be appropriately sparser. Before stocking black guinea pigs, the housing should be spray-disinfected with a 0.02% potassium permanganate solution.

There are many methods for raising black guinea pigs, and farmers can choose a raising method that suits them. However, before raising black guinea pigs, the construction of a farm is essential. The farm can be built according to one's own needs, following the principle of simplicity and convenience, and minimizing unnecessary costs as much as possible.