Beyers Deli Nature Cobayas

Man has been keeping guinea pigs as household pets since time immemorial. Long before the Spanish had conquered South-America, the Incas had already been keeping and breeding guinea pigs, mainly for their meat and fur. Even today, these little animals are still ranging between the tents and huts of the local Indians in South-America looking for food. At the close of the 16th Century, Spanish explorers and Dutch seafarers, took along large quantities of guinea pigs on board of their ships. This way, they would have an ample source of meat during the long journey back to home. However, a number of animals did survive the journey and arrived in good health on the European continent. Only many years later the guinea pig became the popular pet it has become to date. Yet, guinea pigs have been exported in around 1680 from the Netherlands to England and France. They were such a costly pet, that only the very well-off could afford this little pet as a curiosity and a toy for their children. Guinea pigs are naturally very sweet, calm, not springy animals; they have a reasonable size and so they are indeed suitable for young kids. Because of its slightly larger size, it needs more space than a hamster. Guinea pigs are plant eaters that have a very long digestive tract and they are difficult, choosy eaters. In nature, guinea pigs mainly feed on parts of plants containing a high rate of raw fibres. The guinea pig does not have the enzyme that produces its needful vitamin C. Therefore, it has to absorb it with the feed in sufficient quantities. A guinea pig is no grain eater, so the feed should contain superior quality dried plants, vegetables and garden herbs. Young guinea pigs need even more good and varied feed than the older animals. During the build up of their bones and growth of their body, all the benefits they can get from their feed is of utmost importance. A high protein rate for muscle growth and fur, as well as a correct amount of calcium and phosphor are also indispensible nutrients for growth.