What is a common rationale for selecting donor females and foster mothers with different coat colors in axenic pup production?

• A. To ensure litter color variety
• B. To help visually distinguish individuals and maintain genetic integrity
• C. Color has no effect on outcomes
• D. Only to aid aesthetic presentation

Answer: (B)

Visual identification of dam-pup relationships is essential in axenic pup production. Having donor females and foster mothers with different coat colors provides a quick, at-a-glance cue to distinguish which pups came from which dam and which foster dam is caring for them. This helps staff track lineage, prevent mixing litters, and maintain the defined germ-free status and genetic integrity of the colonies. Color differences are a practical tool for accurate record-keeping and proper nursing assignments, not just aesthetics or unrelated color variety.