YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Which one determines litter size male or female

MyFairLacy · 01-30-2008, 07:21 PM

I'm sure both the male may play a small role in litter size due to genetics...but I've always been told that it is the female that determines litter size. The female releases several eggs while in heat. There are normally several that are fertilized, but not all of them attach to the uterine wall and develop. The female's body will absorb unfertilized eggs and can absorb some of the embryos if the amount fertilized is too great in number for her to carry.

The male does determine the sex of the puppies. A female is XX so the mother always passes on an X chromosome onto every puppy. A male is XY so his sperm will carry either an X chromosome or a Y Chromosome. Puppies that inherit two X chromosomes will be female and puppies that inherit an X and a Y will be male

01-30-2008, 07:21 PM	#11
MyFairLacy Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 11,003	I'm sure both the male may play a small role in litter size due to genetics...but I've always been told that it is the female that determines litter size. The female releases several eggs while in heat. There are normally several that are fertilized, but not all of them attach to the uterine wall and develop. The female's body will absorb unfertilized eggs and can absorb some of the embryos if the amount fertilized is too great in number for her to carry. The male does determine the sex of the puppies. A female is XX so the mother always passes on an X chromosome onto every puppy. A male is XY so his sperm will carry either an X chromosome or a Y Chromosome. Puppies that inherit two X chromosomes will be female and puppies that inherit an X and a Y will be male __________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue.