LETTER OF TEANSMITTAL. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau op Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C, December 28, 1912. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on Raising Guinea Pigs, by 

 David E, Lantz, assistant in the Bio-logical Survey, and to recommend its publication 

 as a farmers' bulletin. Numerous inquiries fjix^m various parts of the United States in 

 regard to the best methods of rearing guinea pigs attest a widespread and growing 

 interest in the subject. The prodont bulletin has the double purpose of supplying 

 the information sought and of obviating the necessity for a voluminous correspondence. 



Guinea pigs are raised chiefly for two purposes: As pets and for scientific uses. 

 Guinea pigs make harmless and interesting pets and many are sold in the United States 

 for this purpose alone. The need for the animal in laboratory experiments is consid- 

 erable and appears to be constantly increasing, so that much of the time the supply 

 is not equal to the demand. Very few guinea pigs are employed for food in this coun- 

 try, but the flesh of the animal is good and nutritious and there is no apparent reason 

 why its use for food should not increase. 



Respectfully, Henry W. Henshaw, 



Chief, Biological Survey. 



Hon, James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



OOI^TElNTS. 



Page. 



Introduction 3 



Wild cavies 4 



The domestic cavy 4 



Guinea pigs as pets ^ 



Guinea pigs as food ^ 



Scientific use for guinea pigs 6 



Management of guinea pigs 



Selection of stock 



Hutches and pens 



Food and feeding ^ 



Breeding 



Diseases and enemies 



12 



Conclusion - 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page. 



o 



Fig. 1. Smooth-haired cavies - 



2. Breeding hutch used by Bureau of Animal Industry 8 



3. Rear of hutch, showing means of ventilation 9 



4. A stack of hutches 



5. Open indoor runs 



525 



2 



