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Effects of early pregnancy on postnatal maternal performance of mice†

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

E. J. Eisen ,
W. R. Williams  and
J. F. Hayes
E. J. Eisen
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
W. R. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
J. F. Hayes
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
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Summary

The influences of age at first pregnancy and number of suckling young on maternal performance of mice were studied. Mean mating ages for early-pregnant and normal-pregnant females were 27 and 52 days respectively. Litter size from parturition (day 0) to day 12 of lactation was standardized to either 8 or 12 pups. The more rapid (P<0·01) growth rate and feed conversion efficiency of early-pregnant dams from mating to parturition continued from 0 to 12 days of lactation but occurred primarily in the first 3 days of lactation, so that there were no differences in body weight or feed intake from days 3 to 12 of lactation. There were no age at pregnancy effects on total mammary gland DNA, RNA or RNA/DNA ratio at day 12 of lactation or on individual progeny weights or feed conversion efficiency of litter growth from 3 to 12 days of lactation. Dams suckling eight young had a lower (P<0·01) feed intake, gain and feed conversion efficiency from 0 to 3 days of lactation. From 0 to 12 days of lactation, these dams were smaller, consumed less feed and their individual progeny weights were larger (P<0·01). Dams suckling eight pups had smaller (P<O01) mammary glands, less (P < 0·05) mammary gland DNA and a higher (P<0·05) RNA/DNA ratio. Interactions between pregnancy age and number suckling were not significant. Feed intake of the dam from 0 to 12 days of lactation was influenced more by litter weight gain (34%) than either dam weight gain (5%) or metabolic body size (6%). Maternal performance of mice, based on pup growth and mammary gland growth and function, was not affected by early pregnancy.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , August 1977 , pp. 1 - 10
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1977

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References

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