RAISING GUINEA PIGS. 



IITTKODUCTIOIX. 



The numerous inquiries received by the Department of Agriculture 

 concerning proper methods of rearing guinea pigs, or cavies, show a 

 widespread interest in the subject throughout the United States. 

 This bulletin, giving the more important details of care and manage- 

 ment, is intended to supply the information sought. 



Fig. 1.— Smpoth-haired cavies. 



Guinea pigs, or cavies (fig. 1), are raised chiefly for two purposes — 

 as pets or fancy stock and for scientific uses. The instructions herein 

 given are applicable to all. They are based mainly on the experience 

 of the Bureau of Animal Industry, which has generously allowed the 

 use of the results of its experiments in the preparation of this paper. 

 For several years that bureau has raised large numbers of guinea pigs 

 in its investigations of heredity and the effects of inbreeding, as well 

 as for laboratory uses. The methods employed have been uniformly 

 successful at both of its breeding establishments near Wasliington. 



74954°— Bull. 525—13 3 



