Animal Welfare: Guinea pig feedlots/farms

[Africa]

I was having a conversation with my friend from Ecuador and guinea pigs came up... well I knew that people from Asian countries eat guinea pigs, but not Ecuador. They basically have huge farms (feedlots) where they breed guinea pigs for people to eat. I have seen some people argue that if pet store breeders are ok because they are helping guinea pigs from becoming exstinct in a sense (because they are not wild animals anymore) Thats really stupid in the first place but if you ever had a doubt if we need pet store breeders or not here is a link to a guinea pig farm photo: Google Image Result for http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/101654705_6a89ebfde9.jpg
And an article on the farms:
UF's Florida FlyIns program: Ecuador - Cuy: Ecuador's Dinner Special
and another photo
Picasa Web Albums - Carol

[Seonta]

These breeding mills for food are no different than the chicken mills that people get their meat from. Yes conditions are disgusting for both the chickens and the guinea pigs.
However, even if all those guinea pigs are eaten and pet stores stop selling guinea pigs, the creatures will live on. This is because people keep having accidental litters, and breeders will keep breeding these animals. We do not have to support breeders at this point because the animals are not endangered nor extinct, they are actually over populated for the amount of people who are willing to house them properly.
I care that all of those animals are going to die but that does not mean I need to "save the species" by breeding animals or supporting breeders because at this point the animals are not endangered nor are they near extinction.

[Africa]

Yes, I agree. Thats why I posted the pics, so people can see how many piggies there are out there, besides that coming from breeders for pet stores.

And thats not just for chickens and guinea pigs, its the same for cattle, pigs and most domestic animals that people eat

[VoodooJoint]

Perhaps you are unaware of our guidelines for posting things such as this http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...her-media.html

I know you didn't post the pictures directly but posting links to pictures is just about the same.

I do not really understand why you would post something like this. We all know that feedlots/breeding farms are pretty bleak and disgusting places. What is the purpose of posting pictures to that type of thing? For the most part we will agree that it's awful--what does that accomplish though?

In the future please refrain from making posts like this.

[lissie]

Originally Posted by Africa

well I knew that people from Asian countries eat guinea pigs, but not Ecuador.

Ecuador is not in Asia. It's in South America.
I am from an Asian country, and we do not eat guinea pigs.

[heartpiggies]

These breeding mills for food are no different than the chicken mills that people get their meat from.

Yep. It may not be the cultural norm for you or I but in many places (mostly in South America btw) guinea pigs are a common part of the local diet. I am very much against the deplorable conditions animals are kept in on mass production farms and I think anything that we can do as consumers to increase the demand for humanely raised and euthanized feed animals is good. I'll just leave it at that.

[Africa]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

I do not really understand why you would post something like this.

I apologise, the purpose of doing it was, like I said to make people aware of whats going on in different parts of the world with these guinea pigs and how they are being bred in such numbers. I know nothing can be done about this, but some people that are 'pro' breeders for pet stores dont realize there is an overpopulation of guinea pigs. This brings attention to that

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

We all know that feedlots/breeding farms are pretty bleak and disgusting places.

Well at least I didnt know about guinea pig farms until today so I was amazed and thought others would also like to know. Im pretty sure not everyone knows so I dont think its useless