Analysis of the Prospects and Economic Benefits of Porcupine Farming
The porcupine, also known as the quill pig or spiny pig, is a rare animal with high economic value. It is a national third-class protected animal and is now on the verge of extinction.
Because its meat is fine and tender and tastes delicious, it is deeply loved by people. Over the years, it has been hailed as a mountain delicacy and is also a rare, truly green food today.
Especially after SARS, many wild animals were banned and driven off the dining table.
As a mountain delicacy and game meat of this genus, the porcupine has become an even more prized delicacy, favored by consumers, and its price is rising higher and higher.
At the same time, the porcupine also has high medicinal value. Its meat, brain, fat oil, heart, liver, gallbladder, stomach and quills can all be used as medicine.
⟧ It has effects such as lowering blood pressure, relieving pain, promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, dispelling wind and dredging collaterals, and is mainly used to treat stomach disorders, hemorrhoids and fistula, malignant sores, cardiovascular sclerosis, leukemia, rheumatism and other conditions. Besides being used as medicine, the quills of the porcupine are also a high-grade raw material for making floats and ornaments.
Under artificial farming conditions, the porcupine has characteristics such as fast growth, strong disease resistance, tolerance of coarse feed and wide adaptability, with good market prospects and very considerable economic benefits.
Moreover, artificial farming of porcupines can not only effectively protect the survival and reproduction of wild animals and the ecological balance, but also bring relatively large economic benefits to farmers, while at the same time meeting people's living needs. It is a project supported by governments at all levels and functional departments.
The porcupine is an omnivorous nocturnal animal. During the day it mostly lies down and moves little, while at night it is frequently active. In artificial breeding, farm feed is mainly used, chiefly dried sweet potato, corn, pumpkin, soybean, radish and various other vegetables and wild grasses. The feed is simple and abundant, with a wide range of sources.
A porcupine generally weighs 15 kg, with the largest individual weighing about 20 kg. The lean meat rate of the porcupine is extremely high, almost reaching 100%. Under artificial breeding conditions, it grows quickly, and at eight months its body weight can reach about 13 kg, at which point it is an adult pig.
The porcupine reaches sexual maturity at eight months, with a gestation period of about four months. Reproduction is not limited by season, but the peak breeding period is from December each year to June of the following year. Under natural conditions, it gives birth to 1~2 litters per year, with 1~2 young per litter. Through technical handling in artificial breeding, it gives birth to 2 litters per year, with 2~4 young per litter.
Farmers can introduce breeding stock throughout the year. For artificial farming of porcupines, pen raising is best, as it is easy to manage. The cage housing facilities are very simple to build, with low investment. The stocking density is 1~2 animals per sq m, and all are fed raw feed. Artificial porcupine farming involves light work intensity; generally one laborer can raise 400~500 animals per year.
The economic benefits of artificial porcupine farming are obvious. The current market price is 120~160 yuan/kg. The annual production cost of raising one porcupine is only about 250 yuan. If calculated according to the porcupine's growth rate of reaching 15 kg at eight months and a market price of 120 yuan/kg, one commercial porcupine can generate a profit of 1550 yuan. If one female porcupine is raised, the benefits are even more outstanding.