From Pets To Plates: Why More People Are Eating Guinea Pigs

NPR ^ | April 2, 2013 | Alastair Bland

[grundle]

Matt Miller, an Idaho-based science writer with The Nature Conservancy, says rodents and other small livestock represent a low-impact meat alternative to carbon-costly beef. Miller, who is writing a book about the ecological benefits of eating unconventional meats, visited Colombia several years ago. At the time, he says, conservation groups were expressing concern about local ranchers clearing forest to provide pasture for their cattle — activity that was causing erosion and water pollution.

"They were encouraging people to switch from cattle to guinea pigs," Miller says. "Guinea pigs don't require the land that cattle do. They can be kept in backyards, or in your home. They're docile and easy to raise."

According to activists, eating guinea pig is good for the environment.

To render a pound of meat, a cow, he explains, may require 8 pounds of feed. A guinea pig only needs 4.

... a guinea pig herd consisting of two males and 20 females can sustain itself while providing meat for a family of six.

[null and void]

Cuy ping

[Blood of Tyrants]

I prefer possum.

[Perseverando]

Tastes like chicken?

[oldbrowser]

The thought of eating rats is not very appetizing.

[mikrofon]

Talk about cavying in to the environmentalists....

[muir_redwoods]

I’ve had and greatly enjoyed rabbit. Lagomorphs may be my limit; rodents just strike me as rats.

[ladyjane]

I heard a rumor two of wardaddy’s guinea pigs went missing. hmm...

[jonrick46]

Yuk! Why are they BB-Qing them with the heads on? Andrew Zimmern, is that your doing?

[tflabo]

Ugghhhh——plenty of feral pigs around to slaughter before i want to start eating rodents. Maybe rabbit being the only exception.

[I cannot think of a name]

There is NO convoluted pretzel logic the liberal mind won’t embrace.

[jonrick46]

Andrew Zimmern, that is you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuXKGuxB9Zc

[null and void]

*groan*

[nomad]

As a kid, I had one for a pet, they`re actually very friendly animals. NO THANKS!

[Gator113]

“science writer “ = insane.

[smokingfrog]

Bacon-wrapped with sweet taters and hominy on the side. Makes a nice snack.

[FlingWingFlyer]

The trouble with Guinea pigs is that you can eat a half dozen of them and a half hour later you’re hungry again.

[Doogle]

[muawiyah]

There are all sorts of animals classified in rodentia but not all of them are rats (family Muridae), or even clearly related to rats. DNA studies have demonstrated that order to be pretty much a place where scientists, unable to figure out the difference from one type of animal to another just tossed them in.

The guinea pig is neither a pig nor from guinea, but it is a member of the family Caviidae.

Squirrels, definitely good eats, have a suborder Sciuromorpha, and a family of Sciuridae.

[Rio]

Guinea hens = tastes like chicken
Guinea pigs = tastes like bacon?