Milk Production in Laboratory Mice

Abstract

Daily milk yield records of 635 females were used to characterize the shape of the lactation curve and to estimate milk yield in laboratory mice. Milk production from Day 6 through Day 21 of lactation was estimated by isolating the litters (size eight) from the dam for 6 hr daily, then weighing the litter before and after 1.5 hr of suckling. From regression of average daily milk yield on day of lactation second and third degree polynomial equations described lactation curves which accounted for 92.3 and 98.6% of observed variation in milk yield. Measurement of milk yield on Days 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, and 20 provided excellent prediction (R2 = .86) of actual milk yield for the lactation. © 1972, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.