Final answer:
Female mice exhibit a postpartum estrus approximately 24 hours after giving birth, allowing for rapid reproduction. This contrasts with the reproductive cycles of sheep, which are influenced by the length of the day and have longer gestation periods.
Step-by-step explanation:
how many hours after giving birth do female mice have a postpartum estrus is: b) 24 hours. Postpartum estrus is the period shortly after parturition (giving birth) during which female mice are receptive to mating again. Contrary to female sheep, where the estrus cycle is influenced by day length, mice can re-enter the estrus cycle quickly after giving birth. This phenomenon is known as postpartum estrus and is crucial for species that benefit from rapid reproduction. Understanding the reproductive cycle of mice is important in fields ranging from veterinary care to research on genetics and developmental biology.
The gestation period of sheep, as a point of contrast, is around 150 days, and their estrus cycle is controlled by the length of the day. This information helps illuminate the varying reproductive strategies across different species. In comparison, mice have short gestation periods, and the rapid entry into postpartum estrus allows them to produce multiple litters in a relatively short timeframe, contributing to the species' ability to quickly populate an area.