Mother-young relations in the european rabbit: physiological and behavioral locks and keys

Abstract:

In any mammalian species a proper understanding of the natural, co­evolved mother-young system is of major importance if productivity is to be optimized under conditions compatible with the animals' welfare. The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is particularly interesting in this regard given its unusually limited and stereotyped pattern of maternal care and the equally stereotyped set of corresponding specializations in the young. For each of five key topics - the nest, parturition, nursing, suckling, and weaning - the behavior of the mother and then of the kits is described, followed by a consideration of the possible application of this information to improving husbandry.

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