The guinea pig in Peru is more likely not a pet, but an agricultural animal that is kept for meat.
In this country, guinea pigs are grown on an industrial scale, and their carcasses are consumed not only domestically, but also exported. per person per year.
In honor of the guinea pig, a holiday was established in the country - “National Tsui Day” in accordance with ministerial resolution No. 0338-2013-Minagri of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. It will be celebrated nationwide every second Friday of October.
In 2018, the production of guinea pig meat in Peru reached 12,138,480 kg., Of which 9,987 kg. has been exported to the United States. In 2017, production amounted to 11,992,200 kg., Of which 10,893 kg. has been exported.
According to the 2017 National Agricultural Survey (ENA 2017), the guinea pig population was 17,380,175 units. The study involved 827,234 manufacturers nationwide.
It should be noted that the number of guinea pigs across the country increased from 2012 (IV National Agricultural Census) to 2017 (National Agricultural Survey) by 37%, and this indicator demonstrates a steady increase in this production activity.
For information, the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) comes from the Andean zone of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia.
