Breeding experience for achieving multiple pregnancies and high productivity in guinea pigs

1. Timely mating. Because guinea pigs are small herbivorous mammals, their signs of estrus are not as obvious as those of other animals. If the methods used to observe estrus in other animals are applied to guinea pigs, it is easy to miss the mating period and cause losses to production. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the signs of estrus in guinea pigs every day, especially when feeding in the early morning. Estrus can be judged from the following signs: standing still and looking around; red, swollen, and moist genital area with thin mucus discharge; reduced appetite; restlessness, running back and forth, or squeaking.

2. Repeat mating. A sow can be mated 2--3 times during one estrous period. Because the duration of ovulation in sows is 10-18 hours, repeat mating should be spaced 6-15 hours apart. If the interval is shorter than 6 hours, mating may be ineffective or not very effective. The first mating of guinea pigs is in the second or third estrous period. Appropriately mating earlier can control the sow from becoming too large.

3. Master mating techniques and measures. Before the first mating of sows, and 9-18 hours after multiparous sows give birth to pups, place a boar with them for mating. This can shorten the reproductive cycle and result in a high conception rate. The average estrous period of sows is 16 days, so 13--19 days after mating, pay attention to observing whether they show signs of estrus to determine whether mating was successful. If there are signs of estrus, it indicates that mating failed.