Postingestive Feedback from Starch Influences the Ingestive Behaviour of Sheep Consuming Wheat Straw

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Volume

66

Issue

1-2

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

2000

First Page

49

Last Page

63

Abstract

Plant species present a complex array of biochemicals to herbivores that in conjunction with a plant's physical structure influence intake. Our objective was to determine the role of postingestive feedback from macronutrients on the ingestion of a low-quality forage by sheep (Ovis aries). We compared the ingestive behaviour of two groups of lambs conditioned with intraruminal infusions of starch (100 g/lamb/day; Group 1) or water (250 ml/lamb/day; Group 2) while they grazed wheat straw (held erect in wooden frames; 30 cm height; Trials 1, 2 and 3) or consumed wheat straw from food boxes (1–2 cm particle size; Trial 4). Lambs were conditioned as individuals during Trials 1 and 4, in pairs during Trial 2, and as two groups (Groups 1 and 2) during Trial 3. Ingestive behaviour – intake, intake rate, number of bites, bite size, bite rate — was assessed during individual tests that lasted 5 min/lamb. After conditioning and testing, all animals had restricted access (80% of their daily energy requirements) to a basal diet of alfalfa pellets. No differences between groups were detected during initial tests (before infusing starch) or during Trial 1 (P>0.05). Lambs conditioned with starch in Trial 2 consumed more straw (8 vs. 2 g; P

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