The snow pig is actually what we commonly call a marmot, also known as hala or quwa in Tibetan. It has a large and fat body, and its meat is called snow pig meat, which is a good medicine for dispelling wind and dampness. Let's take a look at the uses of snow pig meat below.
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【Identification of Snow Pig】
The snow pig is similar to rodents in appearance and lifestyle. It is the largest species in the squirrel family and is a terrestrial and burrowing herbivorous and hibernating wild animal. Its fur is short and coarse, and its color varies by region, season, and age.
The snow pig has a large and fat body, a thick neck, a wide snout, small ears, and small eyes. Its limbs are short and thick, with strong claws and a short and flat tail. The snow pig is 30-60 centimeters long, with the longest individual reaching nearly 60 centimeters in length, weighing 3-7 kilograms, and the heaviest individual weighing over 7.7 kilograms.
It has a series of morphological characteristics suitable for digging burrows: short and stout body, no neck, short and stout limbs, short tail and ears, strong and robust skull, wide and low interorbital region, prominent supraorbital process, high dorsal ridge, and well-developed tendons in various parts of the body.
Wild marmots are listed as blacklists for monitoring and eradication by the disease control and plant protection departments because they harbor highly pathogenic bacteria and pose a threat to pastures.
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【Growth Habits of Snow Pig】
Snow pigs inhabit various grasslands and alpine meadows on plains and mountains. They live in groups and have strong digging abilities. Their burrows are deep and complex, mostly dug under rocky slopes and thickets in valleys.
They are active during the day, have a large appetite, and consume a large amount of high-quality forage grass every day. They can withstand hunger and do not drink water. They prefer juicy feed with high water content.
Wild marmots mainly feed on leaves and stems of sedge and gramineous plants, and flowers of leguminous plants. Their diet also shows seasonal variations and becomes omnivorous under captive conditions.
Marmots are easy to tame, do not harm humans, are heat-intolerant, and are afraid of exposure to the sun. When the temperature remains below 10°C for a long time, they naturally hibernate for a period of 3-6 months, and wake up naturally when the temperature becomes warmer.
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【Uses of Snow Pig Meat】
Snow pig meat: It has the effects of dispelling wind, activating collaterals, removing dampness, and clearing heat. It is commonly used for rheumatism, swollen and painful knees and feet, hemorrhoids, and itchy and damp skin.
Snow pig bones: Take the bones of the limbs, remove the remaining flesh, and dry them in a ventilated place. The dried limb bones are not very large, with white bone and a slight yellow color, and the cross-section is rich in oil. They can be used to dispel wind and treat joint and bone pain, as well as numbness in the limbs.
Snow pig oil: It is best to capture it during the snow pig's hibernation. Their burrows often have multiple openings, but only one is left open during capture, and the rest are sealed off. Then, sulfur and chili pepper are burned or water is poured in to drive them out.
At this time, the entrance of the burrow is closed with a sack, and they can be captured. After capturing and killing them, the fat is taken out from their stomachs and hung up to dry. It can be used to treat rheumatism, itchy sores, body tinea, and perianal abscesses.
Marmot stomach: It nourishes the stomach, replenishes deficiencies, and stops diarrhea. It can be used to treat gastritis, enteritis, diarrhea, indigestion, and gastrointestinal ulcers, and other intestinal diseases.
