
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Merchant, JC 
A1  - Marsh, H 
A1  - Spencer, P 
A1  - Death, G 
T1  - Milk Composition and Production in Free-Living Allied Rock-Wallabies, Petrogale Assimilis
JF  - Australian Journal of Zoology
JO  - Aust. J. Zool.
Y1  - 1996
VL  - 44
IS  - 6
SP  - 659
EP  - 674
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO9960659 
N2  - Milk composition and the rates of milk consumption by pouch young were examined in free-living allied rock-wallabies, Petrogale assimilis. Milk solids concentrations were approximately 16% (w/w) at 70 days post-partum and increased to about 22% by 170 days when young first left the pouch. By permanent pouch emergence (about 200 days), concentrations had declined and stabilised at about 19%. Milk carbohydrate peaked at 12% (w/v) at 150 days; lipid concentrations averaged 8% (w/w) at 200 days. The subsequent decline in carbohydrates was the main cause of the fall in milk solids. Protein concentrations increased gradually from about 3% (w/v) at 70 days to plateau at 5.5% at about 200 days. Milk consumption rates were measured from 72 to 159 days post-partum with Na-22 turnover. Milk consumption, about 3 mL day(-1) initially, increased to an average of about 15 mL day(-1) by 150 days. The mass gained by a pouch young between 72 and 159 days for each millilitre of milk consumed was not correlated with lactational stage and averaged 0.21 +/- 0.014 (s.e.)g mL(-1). 
ER  -

