Small guinea pig farming helps pig farmers in Changsha County transition out of pig rearing and prosper

Guinea pigs have strong disease resistance, breed quickly, and have a high survival rate. Photo by Zeng Shiyi

Rednet Changsha County Station, August 7 (Xingsha Times reporter Jiang Zhibin) In recent years, disorderly farming by pig farmers has worsened the environment of Fulin Town. Starting in 2010, the Fulin Town government, in order to improve the environment and control the pig population, actively persuaded farmers to exit pig farming and switch to other production. Villager Huang Xiping of Guhuashan Village, together with other farmers, with the help of the local government, began engaging in specialty farming, opening up a brand-new money-making model without damaging the environment.

Before switching production, the pig population was nearly 700 head

Guhuashan Village was once the village with the largest scale of pig farming in Fulin Town. At its peak, Huang Xiping's household had nearly 700 head of pigs. In the two years before switching production, his farm lost about 100,000 yuan each year. Pig illness, rising feed prices, and falling pig prices were the main causes of the losses.

With disorderly pig farming, the environment of Guhuashan Village and even Fulin Town began to change. Green mountains and clear waters were no more, replaced by a situation of “mosquitoes biting everywhere, pig manure stinking all over, and a river of manure flowing east.” “Before the government called for exiting pig farming and switching production, I already had the idea of switching production. After all, environmental degradation affects me and future generations.” Huang Xiping told reporters that, at the government's call, he took the initiative to demolish his own pig pens and began actively switching production.

After switching production, raising small guinea pigs earns big money

“In 2011, someone introduced 10 pairs of small guinea pigs from Guangxi, and the breeding was very successful.” Huang Xiping said that after investigation and experimentation, he found that guinea pigs are fairly well adapted to the climate of Fulin Town, and have strong disease resistance, breed quickly, and have a high survival rate, so he decided to engage in this kind of specialty farming. In April last year, he established the Changsha County Longteng Guinea Pig Breeding Professional Cooperative, and converted the previous pig pens into a guinea pig breeding base, raising more than 400 guinea pigs. “Guinea pigs only need to eat grass and a small amount of coarse grains, with low cost, high returns, and quick results.” Huang Xiping said.

“At present, commercial guinea pigs cost about 40 yuan per jin, while breeding stock is about 50 yuan each, and demand exceeds supply.” Speaking of market sales, Huang Xiping said joyfully that, besides being sold to areas around Changsha, the products are also sold to Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other provinces. Driven by Huang Xiping, other farmers in Fulin Town also began raising guinea pigs. The cooperative has 5 shareholders and more than 20 members, with annual sales of more than 20,000, achieving economic benefits of nearly 1 million yuan.

“Fulin Town began persuading farmers to exit pig farming and switch production in 2010. At present, the pig population has dropped sharply, and the industry is also gradually developing.” Luo Yu, director of the Fulin Town Agricultural Comprehensive Service Center, told reporters that industries such as specialty aquaculture, vegetable planting, and specialty farming are gradually growing stronger.