| Show our part in feeding the nation becj I information service united states department GUINEA PIGS HAVE A WARTIME JOB TOO small animals used in testing and standardizing serums and antitoxins VALUABLE HELP TO immature animals weighing about nine ounces are required for medical research work some hints on raising them guinea pigs are fit for any table and arc receiving attention now la connection ath the utilization of every means of increasing food supplies there is anither wartime use however that appeals more to the imagination ahls Is in medical research especially ally in testing and standardizing antitoxins and serums such medical research work has been much enlarged ond his greatti increased in importance since americas entry into the world war atia guinea pig in being made to in tho testing of serums and anti toxin confers a direct benefit upon the american soldier therefore the guinea pig is doing his bit and persons who inter the industry of guinea pigs likewise help to meet a ur tin e need in medical research immature ant raach weighing 2 50 grains nearly nine ounces are required this weight Is alln ined in about six weeks in past beare the average price of a guinea pig his been about 75 cents but reports arvo afen received recently of labora lories baj ing from 1 to because of the of stock persons favorably situated near cities or institutions large numbers of guinea bips pips may establish a profitable in supplying them they should remember however that aal rols previously used for serum or nn s or the offspring of guinea pigs that have survived such testa may be unfit for laboratory experiments guinea pigs as food guinea alga anro seldom eaten in the stafe butth clr near relation hii to ali tr and ahe fact that they are wholly in mav entertaining doubts AS to hull gaess for the table the hlo fit the domestic la the chit caiati for its neglect as a food set highly esteemed pin nn w it ea meat than d pig method 0 dressing the gilr a pg for cooking Is the one gen cialli iho if killed by its which it pvc jabout tab edme process ats n Ain liin ilg in for WUK its illicit s cut it Is hung KU nn n few nil iilah to peel and Is baided in diat nt first Is not too hot tim hilr 1 removed tl e than etli f the entrails ulian cub nna the carcass washed in pi tei t Is then ready for the cook he pi roast the amman alt lie number of possible ans ff n lug aln oi 15 unlimited A in iem afta cs aliey are 1 eating v cwi iwi cd in any of I 1 he wn 1 to small game of few ar OB r ai pigs ahe aro sro much less sub jcck to than aro rol lils for ull ex lit cah atlon he clods of p that should be ore the varieties clift ll ift anre of bolor it anre for alli use coland and ore 10 b 1 r f it ant iuri ii our ih of little dlton n d ltd AU 1 te JL ej point in selecting stock Is to obtain animals that will mature quickly and attain good size guinea pigs require about the same of accommodations as rabbits general methods of managing them bae been advocated courts and houses also they require about tha ame diet as rabbits they eat frequently during the day and should have a constant supply of staple dry food A pan of rater a piece of kocl salt and a pan cf dry grain should be constantly available of guinea pigs requires no extract dimry and no great outlay of capital little space 13 needed to accommodate the animals malch aro hardi and easily magged they make interesting pets and satis faford food animals the constantly increasing demand tor them in scientific am and medical ro buirch insures a ready market for reasonable numbers at prices that should be e to the producer persons considering the raising of guinea pigs may find detailed discus aloa of the subject in farmers bulletin raising guinea pigs issued by the united states department of agriculture ri 4 ihl i H l 4 M BREEDING GUINEA PIGS I 1 ii t guinea pigs breed at a very 4 early age but their capacity for t reproduction has been greatly exaggerated and a mistaken no has become fixed in the minds of many people ordinarily five utters may he expected in a year averaging f about three young each tho faist latt r produced by a female i consists of but one or 4 t 0 subsequent ones are com conly larger but they rarely 5 number more than five or six A female in her breeding prime 1 may be expected to raise about 4 12 to 15 young cadi year th t H K HMM H M M W HH M 1 I I 1 l T ha fr animals as harvest hands ue stock properly managed will help ohp overworked farmer to harvest some of his crops profitably thus sav dig man labor during the busy season in return the care of the young stock ural acs profitable employment for the farmer and hia hired help if he has any during the winter and early si ring when work Is slack this not oaly saves much man labor during the busa season but equalizes the labor the different seasons mien farm labor li not available to h arvest all the crops alv offer a profitable method of tuk ing care of the surplus hay and grain by pasturing them the form animals not only harvest them cheaply but valle doing so profitable gains and help to maintain soil fertility instead of cutting the entire alfalfa do cr 01 other hay crop pasturing some of it much labor the cash returns from the hay bar bi the ue stock are usually fully equal to those received when the ha I 1 harvested by hand labor or poor rye wheat oats and barley kiy ba hogged down to excellent advantage corn and mabuce soy banns aro harvested successfully by in p and sheep and to some extent by cattle it Is usually customary to fence oa 03 part of a cornfield by a movable fence and after one strip Is cleaned up to another plenty of water ond a little salt are necessary or the gita test improvement of ahe stock siv berns planted with tho corn and repp sown nt the last add to the feeding alue of the corn proper housing proper housing Is an important factor in the successful raising of hogs too often this Is neglected when little und effort would be required to provide good ventilated houawa velch give am pie protection from cold an I 1 inich |
