Snow pigs are actually what we commonly call marmots, also known as Hala and Quwa in Tibetan. They have a large and stout body, and their meat is called snow pig meat, which is a good remedy for rheumatism. Let's take a look at the usage of snow pig meat.
Identification of Snow Pig
Snow pigs resemble rodents in appearance and lifestyle. They are the largest species in the squirrel family and are terrestrial and burrowing herbivorous and hibernating wild animals. They have short and coarse fur, and their fur color varies by region, season, and age.
Snow pigs have a large and stout body, thick neck and broad snout, small ears and narrow eyes, short and thick limbs, hard claws, and a short and flat tail. They are 30-60 centimeters long, with the largest individual reaching nearly 60 centimeters in length and weighing 3-7 kilograms, with the maximum weight exceeding 7.7 kilograms.
They have a series of morphological features suitable for burrowing, such as short and stout body, no neck, short and stout limbs, short tail and ears, robust skull, wide and low interorbital region, prominent supraorbital process, high vertebral spine, and well-developed muscles and tendons throughout the body.
Wild marmots are listed on the blacklist for monitoring and eradication by disease control and plant protection departments due to their harboring of virulent bacteria and their threat to pastures.
Collection Method of Snow Pig Meat
The bones of snow pigs are taken from their limbs, and the residual meat is removed before drying in a well-ventilated place. The dried limb bones are not very large, with white bone and a slight yellow tinge, and a thick oily texture on the cut surface. Those without oil stains or insect infestation are preferred for treating rheumatism, muscle and bone pain, and numbness in the limbs.
The best time to capture snow pig oil is when they are hibernating. Their burrows usually have multiple openings, but only one is left open during capture, and the rest are sealed. Then sulfur, chili, or water is used to smoke or flush them out. At this time, the burrow entrance is covered with a sack, and they can be captured. After capturing and killing them, the abdomen is opened to remove the fat, which is then packed into the stomach and hung up to dry.
Snow pig bones and fat can treat rheumatism, itching sores, tinea corporis, and scabies.
Nutritional Value of Snow Pig Meat
The entire body of a snow pig is valuable: its meat is edible; its fat can be used medicinally, internally for treating hemoptysis and externally for treating burns, and it can also be processed into high-end cosmetics with moisturizing and skincare effects. Side effects: it is dry, warm, and slightly toxic.
Snow pig meat contains abundant nutrients such as protein, fat, and minerals, and has the effects of dispelling wind and activating collaterals, removing dampness, and clearing heat. It is mainly used to treat rheumatism, swollen and painful feet and knees, hemorrhoids, and itchy and hot skin.
Snow pig meat can tonify the spleen and stomach, invigorate qi and blood, and dispel wind and dampness; snow pig bones can dispel wind and treat muscle and bone pain and numbness in the limbs; snow pig oil can treat rheumatism, itching sores, tinea corporis, scabies, and is very effective in treating burns.
The fur of snow pigs has good leather quality, is solid and wear-resistant, and the dyeing performance of marmot down is excellent. After processing, the fur is bright and colorful, making it highly valuable for making fur garments.
