Artificial Weaning of Old World Monkeys: Benefits and Costs
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2002 |
Authors: |
Viktor Reinhardt |
Publication/Journal: |
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science |
Keywords: |
monkey breeding colony, mother-infant separation, weaning age |
Abstract:
Permanent mother-infant separation prior to natural weaning is a common husbandry practice in monkey breeding colonies. In the United States, all eight Regional Primate Research Centers have such colonies. Under undisturbed conditions, Old World monkey mothers wean their infants at the age of about 1 year (Hall & DeVore, 1965; Poirier, 1970; Roonwal & Mohnot, 1977; Southwick, Beg, & Siddiqi, 1965). Natural weaning is a gradual process. It implies that the mother, over a period of several weeks or months, more and more consistently discourages her infant to suck on her breasts. Once the mother stops nursing the infant for good, the affectionate bond between the two is not broken (Altmann, Altmann, Hausfater, & McCuskey, 1977; Lindburg, 1971; Poirier, 1970; Roonwal & Mohnot, 1977). The young usually remains in the maternal group at least until prepuberty. Under confinement conditions, artificial weaning is an abrupt occurrence that takes place several months prior to the biologically normal age of weaning. It implies that the still-nursed infant is taken away from the mother and subsequently reared alone or with other artificially weaned infants.