Raising guinea pigs for meat in the mountainous region of Nghe An.

(Baonghean.vn) - Guinea pigs are considered pets in many countries, but are currently being...Mr. Lo Sy NguyetIn the mountainous district of Tuong Duong (Nghe An province), they raise them for food.

Mr. Lo Sy Nguyet's model consistently maintains 100-150 breeding rats to supply the market. Photo: Lu Phu

For the past two years, Mr. Lo Sy Nguyet's three-room wooden house, located along the road leading to the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir, has become a familiar address for those who are passionate about raising and enjoying... rat meat. Mr. Lo Sy Nguyet, a retired teacher, is diligent and hardworking. After years of experimenting with raising various animals like pigs, chickens, and goats, but without achieving the desired results, he decided to change professions.

Mr. Nguyet shared: "In 2013, while visiting an acquaintance in Nhon Mai commune (Tuong Duong district), I was invited to eat rat meat raised by the locals. It tasted so good that I bought two breeding pairs of rats to try raising them."

Mr. Lo Sy Nguyet is taking care of his guinea pigs. Photo: Lu Phu

With their easy-to-raise nature, low care requirements, and abundant food including grass, elephant grass, and some starchy foods such as corn and fresh cassava, Mr. Nguyet had a large guinea pig population of over 100 after two years of breeding. He also said that although they belong to the rodent family, unlike common rats, guinea pigs are not destructive, have a low reproduction rate, and each female only gives birth to 2-3 offspring. To prove his point, Mr. Nguyet pointed to the enclosure, which consisted of thin bamboo slats, loosely spaced and fenced low. Yet the guinea pigs never chewed or climbed over them.

Weighing between 0.5 and 0.9 kg, each rat costs between 100,000 and 150,000 VND. Photo: Lu Phu

After his guinea pig farming model became successful and flourished, Mr. Lo Sy Nguyet began to worry about finding buyers, because in 2015, relatively few people knew how to raise and process this "pet." Faced with this situation, Mr. Nguyet took the guinea pigs to the ferry dock on the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir to sell to customers from all over. Gradually, more and more people learned about Mr. Nguyet's guinea pigs.

Having struggled to find a market for their new livestock, Mr. Nguyet's family no longer sells rats for meat as they used to, because the number of breeding rats is no longer sufficient to meet customer demand. A pair of breeding rats, about two months old, sells for 150,000 - 200,000 VND. From 50 breeding pairs, selling 10-15 pairs of offspring each month, Mr. Nguyet earns 2-3 million VND.

According to Mr. Lo Van Nguyet, although guinea pigs are also rodents, they are very docile, don't bite or destroy things, are easy to raise, and their food is readily available in nature, so they require little investment. Photo: Lu Phu

Mr. Nguyet said: "Currently, there are three customers in Nga My and Yen Tinh communes who have also ordered 15 pairs of breeding rats, scheduled to pick them up at the end of December, so these days I am actively taking care of these breeding rats."

Many people are now seeking to learn from Mr. Lo Sy Nguyet's guinea pig farming model. Photo: Lu Phu

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Lo Kham Kha, Head of the Agriculture Department of Tuong Duong District, said that the guinea pig farming by local people is entirely spontaneous, and the farmers have not reported anything to the local authorities. The department strongly encourages people to develop economic models to improve their lives, but they must absolutely ensure hygiene, environmental protection, and disease control. Mr. Lo Kham Kha also stated that guinea pig farming may not affect the aforementioned issues, but the department will soon investigate and determine the specific scientific and practical aspects to develop appropriate solutions.

Lu Phu