Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

From Pets To Plates: Why More People Are Eating Guinea Pigs
NPR ^ | April 2, 2013 | Alastair Bland

Posted on 04/21/2013 3:30:01 PM PDT by 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.


(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: agriculture; cuy; dining; eats; efficiency; guineamcnuggets; guineapigs; meat; rodents; vegans; vegetarian; vegetarianism; vegetarians
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last
To: grundle

The day I start fretting about the environmental impact of my food is the day I need to be locked up.


41 posted on 04/21/2013 4:05:32 PM PDT by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VanShuyten
On the other hand, ribs used to be for the slaves, while certain glands were called "sweetmeats" and eaten by the elite.

Tongue was considered choice.

42 posted on 04/21/2013 4:07:10 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: penelopesire

So they want to ‘teach’ us to eat rats for ‘environmental reasons’

Be prepared for Florida python and black snack cuisine, and of course NYC domesticated sewer rat on the school lunch menu.


43 posted on 04/21/2013 4:08:18 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever ((Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Can a ‘herd’ of 22 of them sustain a family of six?? Yeah, but only if all six are vegetarians. Gotta save Mother Erf, ya’know.


44 posted on 04/21/2013 4:08:59 PM PDT by Bob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

He expected it would taste like fudge?


45 posted on 04/21/2013 4:09:13 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Let them eat themselves!


46 posted on 04/21/2013 4:11:17 PM PDT by hotshu (Redistribution of wealth by the government is nothing but theft under the color of law.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver

In about 1948 there was a similar appeal to eat rabbits. My dad was bitten and got some rabbits. Before long we had more and more and more.

He couldn’t or even perhaps wouldn’t sell the excess. We ate rabbit a lot. It was or actually is, good. There are lots of ways to prepare it.

The real problem was the killing and skinning. It was actual work. maybe on a farm with out a day job it might be ok.

There had been a depression and then a war that prompted such thinking.


47 posted on 04/21/2013 4:11:58 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 .....History is a process, not an event)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: stars & stripes forever

Well....I will be going into the black market cattle business should that come to pass....see ya on the range! LOL


48 posted on 04/21/2013 4:12:14 PM PDT by penelopesire (TIME FOR OBAMA TO ANSWER FOR BENGHAZI UNDER OATH!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: tflabo
Maybe rabbit being the only exception.

Rabbits are not rodents, although they do carry similar diseases. I'm thinking something like leporidae?

49 posted on 04/21/2013 4:13:03 PM PDT by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: stars & stripes forever

“NYC rats on the menu.” If the SHTF, this wouldn’t surprise me at all. My bro went to Nam to teach English. Rat Is a staple.


50 posted on 04/21/2013 4:14:06 PM PDT by huldah1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

You know Manderson Pooper? I’m impressed.


51 posted on 04/21/2013 4:14:10 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (No one can go back and make a new start, but anyone can start from now, and make a new ending.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

A pig that likes donuts???? UNFREEPINGBELIEVABLE


52 posted on 04/21/2013 4:18:27 PM PDT by bigheadfred
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: stars & stripes forever

A tethered guinea pig in the everglades will attract a python that can be killed and a bounty coillected. With the bounty one can buy a steak


53 posted on 04/21/2013 4:19:49 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 .....History is a process, not an event)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: grundle
I bought two “female piggys” a few years back for pets and 6 months later had 10.
The critters can get prego immediately after birthing.
These are great for preppers.
Cute too.
54 posted on 04/21/2013 4:20:58 PM PDT by right way right (What's it gonna take? (guillotines?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wyrd bið ful aræd
I knew a pig that, no kidding, loved donuts.

That's a horrible thing to say about me.

55 posted on 04/21/2013 4:23:35 PM PDT by upchuck (To the faceless, jack-booted government bureaucrat who just scanned this post: SCREW YOU!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: bert
Due to the fact that most commercial rabbit operations are small, and the diseases that prey on rabbits are highly communicable, there are some very restrictive mareting orders on rabbits.

These apply to people who breed them for any purpose (meat, to fur, to Easter presents), and to amateurs as well as professionals.

What that means is even if you give your rabbits away, there are restrictions on how many and under what conditions.

None of the marketing order rules on rabbits make much sense in terms of how cattle and chickens are raised, and that's where folks get in trouble raising rabbits.

We've discussed the marketing orders on FR in the past ~ they actually do make sense for commercial rabbit raisers, but basically if you want to raise rabbits for home consumption, keep them there! Don't give away even one!

56 posted on 04/21/2013 4:26:14 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

>>I know a guy who ate gerbil, said it tasted like crap.<<

Did you ask him what crap tastes like?


57 posted on 04/21/2013 4:39:10 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( There's Two Choices. Stand Up and Be Counted ... Or Line Up and Be Numbered.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: bigheadfred

And the local cops would bring said pig boxes of donuts.


58 posted on 04/21/2013 4:41:29 PM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Gone Galt, 11/07/12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: grundle; All
What a charming idea! I could get really enthusiastic about eating some little grilled/roasted/breaded? "cuy"...NOT!!!

Call me unadventurous (whoever said NYC sewer rats, RIGHT! Eeewww..no way!) but I'll stick to grilled cheese and veg. if that's the choice!

59 posted on 04/21/2013 4:46:13 PM PDT by 88keys (truth will out...eventually...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Just got back from Peru where we were served them as a delicacy. They taste like chicken.


60 posted on 04/21/2013 4:47:28 PM PDT by december12
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson