
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Green, Brian 
A1  - Merchant, Jim 
A1  - Newgrain, Keith 
T1  - Lactational Energetics of a Marsupial Carnivore, the Eastern Quoll (<emph type="2">Dasyurus viverrinus</emph>)
JF  - Australian Journal of Zoology
JO  - Aust. J. Zool.
Y1  - 1997
VL  - 45
IS  - 3
SP  - 295
EP  - 306
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO97003 
N2  - The rates of milk consumption by young of the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), a polytocous medium- sized marsupial carnivore, were estimated by means of the 22Na-turnover technique. The mean individual daily rate of milk consumption at seven weeks of age was 0&#183;6 mL, which increased to a peak of 16 mL at about 14 weeks, when the young weighed 130 g. The total amount of milk energy delivered to each young from birth to the commencement of weaning was 4&#183;1 MJ. The digestible energy intake of lactating quolls (&#177; s.d.), 740 &#177; 117 kJ kg-1 day-1, was nearly double that of non-lactating quolls, 333 &#177; 75 kJ kg-1 day-1. With such high energy demands during lacation, it is unlikely that a complete litter of six could be successfully reared unless prey are abundant. 
ER  -

