... females, resulting in 3.3 g higher individual pup weights. We conclude that shaving off the females’ fur, even though restricted to the dorsal surface, had large consequences on female energy metabolism in lactation and improved milk production and pup growth in line with our previous work on heat...

... between the MEO and water turnover (adjusted R 2 =0.092, y =0.002 x +2.291, P =0.013) ( Fig. 5 ). In conclusion, HF feeding during lactation facilitated greater milk production and generated heavier litters in Swiss mice, yet the lactation performance was not further enhanced in line...

... able to pick up food from days 12 to 14 onwards. We quantified energy metabolism and milk production in female golden hamsters raising offspring under cold (8°C), normal (22°C) and hot (30°C) ambient temperature conditions. We monitored energy intake, subcutaneous body temperature, daily energy...

... day −1 more energy as milk than ML mice (118.9±5.3 and 56.6±5.4 kJ day −1 , N =subset of 32 and 21, respectively). The elevated milk production of MH mice enabled them to wean litters (65.2±2.1 g) that were on average 50.2% heavier than litters produced by ML mothers (43.4±3.0 g), and pups that were...

.... Transferring lactating gerbils from warm to hot conditions resulted in reduced milk production, consistent with the heat dissipation limit theory, but transferring them from warm to cold conditions did not elevate milk production, consistent with the peripheral limitation hypothesis, and placed constraints...

... limitation peripheral limitation heat dissipation limit theory heat transfer lactation metabolic theory of ecology sustained metabolic scope milk production All biochemical, physiological and behavioural processes require energy. An axiomatic assumption, first articulated during the 1930s...

..., A-1180 Vienna, Austria 4 4 2010 © 2010. 2010 sustained metabolic rate maternal investment reproduction lactation heat dissipation limit Lepus europaeus metabolisable energy intake milk production Mammals frequently encounter upper limits to sustained energy turnover...

... mice), shaved mothers exported 15.2% (22.0 kJ day –1 ) more energy as milk than control individuals. The elevated milk production of shaved mice enabled them to wean litters that were 15.4% (12.2 g) heavier than offspring produced by unshaved mice. Our results argue against central, peripheral...