maternal effect

maternal effect.

See maternal inheritance.

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maternal

pertaining to the female parent.

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maternal antibodies

see maternal antibody and passive immunity.

maternal bond

see dam-offspring bond.

maternal effect

the transitory influence of the mother on the phenotype of her offspring, caused by factors such as milk yield and uterine environment.

maternal neglect

failure of the dam to stay with the neonate, failure to groom it, help it to feed, find it if separated. The extreme degree is desertion. Characteristic of some breeds, e.g. merino ewes. See also mismothering.

maternal nutritional status

body condition of a dam, pregnant or with a neonate at foot; important management feature as insurance for the survival of the offspring.

maternal obstetric paralysis

a common abnormality after a difficult calving, especially in a heifer. It is caused by pressure on peripheral nerves, and manifests itself as weakness, paresthesia in one hindleg, or difficulty or inability to rise. The ligaments, joints and muscles are normal. See also obturator paralysis.

maternal pelvic inlet

the size of the aperture leading from the peritoneal to the pelvic cavity.