A Detailed Guide to Black Guinea Pig Farming Techniques and Management Methods

  I. Overview The black guinea pig is a type of black guinea pig -- a precious herbivorous animal that combines game meat, fur, ornamental value and tonic properties in one. The guinea pig belongs to the class Mammalia, order Rodentia, and is also known as the cavy. It has black ears, black eyes, black toes and glossy black fur, hence the name black guinea pig. The guinea pig has a large head, short neck, round ears, no tail and short limbs; the forelimbs have four toes and the hindlimbs have three toes. The claws on the toes are short and sharp, but it does not scratch people, and it is not good at climbing or jumping. It is docile in temperament, timid and easily startled, and sometimes makes squeaking cries. It is characterized by fast growth (it can be sold after 2 months of rearing), high reproductive rate (it reaches sexual maturity and can be mated at one and a half months after birth), strong disease resistance, high survival rate and strong adaptability.

  1. Game meat and tonic value: The black guinea pig, developed through the introduction of wild guinea pigs and continuous optimized breeding, has white and tender meat (muscle fibers are extremely fine) and a fresh flavor that surpasses chicken, duck and fish; the guinea pig skin is rich in collagen and has a fatty and glutinous mouthfeel that surpasses soft-shelled turtle skirt meat. Modern scientific research has proven that black foods are not only rich in nutrients but also have special functions in eliminating free radicals in the human body, resisting oxidation, lowering blood lipids, fighting tumors, supporting yang function and resisting aging. Traditional Chinese medicine in our country holds that black foods tonify the kidney, that the kidney is the foundation of innate constitution, and that the source of life is consolidated in the kidney; it points out that black foods can consolidate the foundation and support healthy qi, nourish the skin and beautify the appearance, strengthen the body and prolong life. The black guinea pig is a high-protein, low-fat and low-cholesterol food. The melanin it contains can eliminate free radicals in the human body and prevent excess lipids, thereby playing a role in delaying aging; its iron content is 3 times that of the soft-shelled turtle.
  2. Medicinal use: Black guinea pig meat is sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, and has the effects of supplementing qi, nourishing blood and removing toxins. It is used to treat conditions such as physical weakness, kidney deficiency in the elderly and postpartum anemia. The meat of the black guinea pig can be used to produce drugs for treating epilepsy, and guinea pig blood can be used to extract the drug raw material serotonin. Patients with stomach diseases and cardiovascular diseases who eat 3-4 black guinea pigs within a short period (about 10 days) can stabilize and alleviate their condition, reduce symptoms and maintain this for a relatively long time.
  3. Fur: The black guinea pig is also a precious fur animal. Its fur is jet black and glossy, and its gloss can compare with that of mink. The fur is 2 cm-3 cm long, shorter than fox fur, and conforms to the new trend of modern clothing disinfection. The skin board is thin and soft and rich in collagen. Monitoring by relevant leather research institutions has proven that the fur of the black guinea pig can be used to produce high-grade fur coats and craft ornaments, and has very high economic value and utilization value.
  4. Ornamental value: The black guinea pig is gentle in temperament, easy to raise and manage, and lively and cute. It is loved by people, especially children, and can be kept as a pet.
  II. Black Guinea Pig Farming Techniques The black guinea pig is a herbivorous animal. Various wild grasses, vegetables, tree leaves, melon rinds, plant stems and leaves, rice straw and other straw are all good feed for it. Feed it once each in the morning and evening every day, with a daily food intake of about 150 grams per animal, appropriately supplemented with a small amount of grains, wheat, corn and other concentrated feed. It is a typical grain-saving small domestic animal. Rural areas have many grassy hills and slopes and very abundant feed resources. Black guinea pigs can effectively use local grass feed, and artificial planting of forage grass gives the best rearing results, enabling every farming household to obtain huge economic benefits and high-grade natural black game meat tonic products in a very short time.
  (I) Preparation of the rearing site First is the rearing facilities. There are many ways to raise black guinea pigs, adapted to local conditions. The commonly used methods generally include: cage rearing, flat rearing in pool-style pens, and three-dimensional large-scale factory farming.
  1. Cage rearing. This rearing method can be used for small-scale raising. Its advantages are that it can control reproduction and feeding and maintain cleanliness and hygiene. The cage can be made of wooden strips, bamboo strips or iron wire, with dimensions preferably 60 cm × 50 cm × 40 cm.
  2. Flat rearing in pool-style pens. This is suitable for use in single-story houses with a wide building. The interior is partitioned 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 straw in the pools to help keep warm and absorb moisture. At present, this method is mostly used for rearing.
  3. Three-dimensional factory farming: It is larger in scale and relatively concentrated, convenient for management and operation, and allows rearing of large numbers. Use bricks, wood or iron bars to make 3-5 layers, with the bottom slightly sloped so that manure flows out, making management convenient. There are small doors in the pools and cages. Generally, the number to be stocked is determined according to the size of the cage or house. At low density, 8-10 animals per sq m; at high density, 10-20 animals. Generally, one 100 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 4 females; one 80 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 3 females; one 60 cm × 50 cm unit can hold 1 male and 2 females; one 45 cm × 35 cm unit can hold 1 male and 1 female. For pool rearing and box rearing, the stocking density should be appropriately lower. Before stocking black guinea pigs, the housing should be sprayed and disinfected with a 0.02% potassium permanganate solution. (II) Feeding The black guinea pig has a very broad diet and is a herbivorous animal that mainly eats green feed. Wild grasses, tree leaves, straw and vegetables are all sources of food for it. Generally, feed it once each in the morning and evening, with about 150 grams per animal per meal. To promote the growth of black guinea pigs, some complete mixed feed should also be fed, and its composition is similar to rabbit feed. For example, for self-made mixed feed (concentrated feed), the raw material ratio is: cornmeal 40%, grain meal 10%, bran 30%, peanut shell meal 15%, fish meal 2%, bone meal 2%, salt 1%. Make the feed into pellets or mix it with water into wet feed for feeding. The black guinea pig has a very miscellaneous diet, and normal growth, development and reproduction all require sufficient nutrition. Because the black guinea pig is a herbivorous animal with a relatively high digestion rate of crude fiber, if green feed or dried grass and other plants are not supplied for a long time, skin peeling will occur, so feed supply should combine concentrated feed and green feed. Green feed: fresh tender grass, such as king grass, elephant grass, ryegrass, corn leaves, sugarcane leaves, tree leaves, green vegetables, fruit peels, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.