Effect of reduced suckling stimulation on the duration of nursing in the rabbit.

Abstract

Studied the duration of daily nursing in 5 rabbits from day 3 to day 22 postpartum. Over the 1st 5 days there was a decrease in the mean duration from 225-150 sec. Over the next 10 days it remained steady at about 150 sec. 5 does were subjected to treatments which were intended to reduce suckling stimulation. Such treatments increased the duration of nursing. Following most treatments does nursed twice in the course of a single day. It is concluded that suckling stimulation, in addition to its role in the milk-ejection reflex, is important both in terminating a nursing episode and in inhibiting further displays of nursing behavior until the following day. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)