Under what circumstances would a foster mother be provided to young animals?

Providing a foster mother to young animals is a crucial welfare consideration in laboratory animal management and broader veterinary practice. The scenario where a foster mother is provided occurs when the natural mother cannot care for her offspring due to reasons such as death, inability to nurse sufficiently, or physical weakness. A natural mother that has died or is incapacitated poses an immediate risk to the survival of the young. Young animals typically rely on their mother's milk for essential nutrients and immune protection in their formative weeks.

If the natural mother is weakened or unable to nurse properly, the young would not receive adequate nutrition or care, which could lead to health complications or mortality. In such instances, transferring the young to a foster mother who can provide proper care and nutrition is vital for their development and survival. This solution also resolves potential scenarios where the natural mother's behavior could negatively affect the health and wellbeing of her young.

Choosing a foster mother assumes that she can not only physically nurse the young but that she is also likely to accept and nurture them, which is crucial for their proper growth and development.