Water balance of small lactating rodents ?III. Estimates of milk production and water recycling in lactating Mus musculus under various water regimes

Abstract

1. The exchanges of water between lactating female and young Mus musculus were modelled on the computer. 2. The model was used to estimate rates of milk production and water recycling in various litter sizes under various water regimes by following the time course of injected tritiated water. 3. The high correlation between estimated rates of milk production and actual growth rates of young was taken to indicate that the method gave if not the actual rates of milk production a very constant proportion of it. 4. Approximately 50% of the water secreted in milk is returned to the mother by recycling.