* Description of the guinea pig

* Classification of the guinea pig

* Foster cuy

* Demand cuy

* Acceptance test guinea pig consumption in Lima

* Global Growth of guinea pig meat

* Demand for Meat in Wong and Metro Cuy

* Deal of the guinea pig meat

* Conclusions

* Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

Better known by the name of the guinea pig in our country, though its scientific name is Cavia porcellus, who was first described in 1554 by Konrad von Gesner.

The Cavia porcellus was domesticated about 4000 years (or twenty-first century BC) from Cavia tschudii (wild version), which still can be found in the central Andes of our country.

According to studies done in the Temple of Cerro Sechin, where deposits were found and guinea pig excreta in what was the first period of the Paracas culture. Also hides and bones have been found buried with human remains in the tombs of pre-Inca cultures authorities. The Moche huacos are a clear example of how important this animal was feeding the former Peruvian population.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GUINEA PIG

The guinea pig is a herbivorous mammal, native to the Andes to conquer the world for its gentleness and ability to be used as experimental animal.

In Peru and other Andean countries is consumed since ancient times for its excellence and food quality in addition to its pleasant taste.

The Cavia porcellus is also known in other countries like America, guinea pig, in English known as Guinea pig, Curi in Colombia and in Ecuador it termed as Macabeo, and Spain was known by the name of Hutia .

The guinea pig breeding is very common among the inhabitants of the Sierra, as their upbringing is inexpensive, early and very prolific.

Class: Breast

Sub-class: Theria

Order: Rodentia

Family: Caviidae

Sub-Family: Caviinae

Genre: Cavia Species: Cavia porcellusCLASSIFICATION OF GUINEA PIG

The classification we do is based on 2 kinds of guinea pigs, according to his coat and one food guide

According to his Coat:

* English or American: It is a breed that has short and curly hair, which has a variety of colors like, brown, white, black, caramel, may have both more than one color, this type of guinea pig is the most known

* Peruvian or Angora: That which has the remarkably long stick.

* Abyssinian: This kind of guinea pig is not well known, is more commonly found in native populations, is easily lost because its origin is the union of two distinct races.

Also have some lines of guinea pig food use among which are the following:

* Cuy Peru Line: It is characterized by early (at nine weeks reaches market weight), besides being very prolific, 2.8 pups per litter. Their colors are combined with white sorrel.

* Cuy Andean Line: Selected for its prolificacy (3.9 pups per litter), are mostly white.

* Cuy Inti Line: This is the best suited to producer level achieved the highest survival rates. Ten weeks 800gramos reaches a litter of 3.2 pups per litter.

* The Creole Cuy Improved: Those guinea pig small, rustic and low levels of production, but crossed with breeding lines producing guinea pigs with higher rates of precocity and prolificacy.

In Peru, studies on guinea pigs began in 1996 with the evaluation of germplasm of different ecotypes sampled nationwide. In 1970 he began a breeding program to improve the prototype of native guinea pig, the animals were selected for their precocity and prolificacy, creating lines Peru, Andean and Inti.

RAISING THE GUINEA PIG

* Foster Family Type: This type of parenting is the most common because it provides security and sustainability to the family economy. This breeding is so careless is the same as the mortality rate among calves is high since they are crushed by the males during the next estrus that occurs shortly after birth. Food supplies are used, residual forage, crops and cuisine, its breeding place is almost always enter the kitchen, or elsewhere in the house, the predominant population in this type of parenting is the Creole.

At present government sectors are seeking to patent the guinea pig as a Peruvian product, due to rising demand for guinea pig meat abroad.

* Raising Business Type: Undeveloped, is established near urban areas where there is demand for guinea pig meat. In this type of breeding selected animals used, the most prolific, early and efficient converters of food.

* Foster Family-Commercial: This parenting class is one where the family

Not only for subsistence farming but also for sale, spread over the southern highlands area.

CUY DEMAND

The growing demand for the meat of guinea pig is an effect of continuous and massive migration that has occurred in recent years of people from the countryside to the city;

we can see this reflected in 80% percent of potential buyers in the sector B of Lima and 70% in the so called D, the reason being the restriction of consumption of even short supply in the market.

ACCEPTANCE TEST OF CONSUMPTION OF GUINEA PIG IN LIMA

As we know the most appreciated of the guinea pig is the meat for its delicious taste which has given rise to several dishes as Chactado Cuy, Cuy Frito, Picante de cuy among others.

But one of the great advantages of the Guinea pig meat is nutritious and excellent features: 19% protein, 7.40% fat, the average weight of guinea pig meat purchased is 650gramos.

World Growth Cuy meat

Although we said earlier that the meat is still little demand in Metropolitan Lima, outside the opposite is happening, as the guinea pig is becoming a lot more fans so much so that 65 million guinea pigs produced in the country are insufficient to absorb all the increased demand that this animal is having on the world.

For this reason, the Minister of Agriculture, Jose Salazar, recommended that the guinea pig production is doubled, because as we know today are farmers in the Mantaro Valley in Junin who are the largest suppliers of guinea pig meat in supermarkets specifically Lima Metro and Wong.

At present Chile Peru sells to the amount of 80 000 guinea pigs per month and is being exported to Asian countries an amount of about 150mil copies.

Meat demand in Wong and Metro Cuy

Demand for guinea pig meat by the Corporacion Wong (Wong and Metro) began with the introduction of this product in Metro hypermarkets in 2002 with sales of twenty-five to thirty units every two weeks, now sold no less than 800 units per week, which has meant an increase of 1000%, even on holidays like Mother’s Day or Independence Day increases the purchase of units per week from 800 to 1000 or 1500 units.

As we know Wong Corporation began selling guinea pig meat in Metro hypermarkets that a large percentage of customers in the Metro is a native of provinces which already is a tradition of guinea pig meat, but this happened last year have introduced Guinea pig meat in Wong (Wong Corporation supermarket walks aimed at more affluent), although much effort has gained some acceptance in this market made up of sectors A and B.

Wong Corporation has recently introduced its line of cooked meat based on guinea pig with export quality, in addition to this were new presentations as guinea filleting, boning and bagged optimally.

Wong Corporation know that works with farmers in the Mantaro Valley in Junin, and that having a single vendor to reach an agreement easily, and where both sides are satisfied, thanks to the Wong Corporation purchases will benefit about 160 families who have evolved from simple farmers most sophisticated producers.

Guinea pig meat has an elastic demand with the price and marketing. When they have done tastings, sales of the guinea pig was increased by 400 to 500% in some of its stores. In relation to the volume of sales, decreased to a price increase and vice versa. In practice we can form the demand for meat is growing guinea pig

The increase in demand for guinea pig meat will be 50% this year, its growth forecast in 5 years is 220%

TOTTUS HYPERMARKETS

This supermarket belonging to the Chilean Falabella group of guinea pig meat sold about 2 years, the problem they face is the short supply of guinea pig units that meet the weight and health standards required by them, is for this reason that only have one supplier .

In the beginning was provided to 300 units per week, but recently been supplying 400 units per week and expect that with the opening of 2 new premises that continue to rise.

Our quality control is comprehensive not only to choose their supplier but also to quality of guinea pig meat sold (this must be without bruises, temperature control and this does not have hair on the skin).

HOW TO BUY THE GUINEA PIG MEAT

OFFER OF THE GUINEA PIG MEAT

Limitations of the Offer Cuy Meat

We’ll start by saying that there is still little demand internally by the guinea pig meat is caused by some reasons that are important include:

* Lack of modernization and training: There are few breeders still able to cope with the demand of both internal and external market, since due to their poor knowledge are of poor quality specimens for sale within the country and even to export ment.

* Limited Supply of guinea pig meat: To which sector is requested aid from the Ministry of Agriculture to promote not only consumption but also the internal external, and it is verified as shown in the first table there is an unmet demand caused by very low quantity supplied, there is an attractive offer which is accompanied by a low publicity and poor marketing system

Bid d e Cuy Meat in Lima

There are currently two main sources which concentrates the supply of guinea pig meat are:

* Commercial Farms

* Wholesale Markets

And there is a third smaller supply market such as supermarkets which is in constant expansion.

* These farms get most of your gain on the sale of meat and a guinea pig as stallions (guinea early and prolific that will cater to smaller farms), but selling the meat of the guinea pig is more profitable to them.

* Commercial Farms:

* Wholesale Markets:

They are supplying nearly all the Lima market for beef and guinea pig, there are four major found in: San Juan de Miraflores, La Victoria, Caqueta, in the center of Lima.

As we said earlier these markets are served by guinea pigs that originated in South and Central Sierra country, Cuzco, Puno, among others, although some of the wholesale markets are also served by commercial farms. However 65% of guinea pigs that are sold in Lima is of foreign origin and the remaining commercial farms is found in Lima as Huachipa, Chosica, etc.

CONCLUSIONS

Lima People are accustomed to eating meat of guinea pig by tradition and culture.

This meant that unsatisfied demand is having a profitable market and tends to an expansion that is taking hold.

Guinea pig meat has a significant potential demand at the supermarket because almost 80% of people go to supermarkets, with the vast majority of them have Andean roots belonging to the 2 nd and 3 rd generation immigrants.

Another point to note about the limited supply is parenting there being guinea pigs Lima provinces that supply the metropolitan Lima, which I think a higher price which generates more spending on the potential buyer.

Most breeders do not have enough knowledge to produce quality guinea pigs, thus raising the majority of them is rustic, poor and creole guinea pigs which does not cover the demand for consumer satisfaction.

A point worth noting is the effort of the Corporation Wong, especially since they are showing the general public a more specific range of quality, greater variety and greater health security.

REFERENCES

www.minag.gob.pe / livestock / pec_real_cuyes.shtml – 96k

– 22k

– 44k –

– 46k –

– 27k –

Benites Ulloa, Clara Sofia

Student at San Martin de Porres University, postgraduate studies in Business Administration

Employment with the Microeconomics Course

Professor: Cordova

Lima – Peru

2007