Fasting affects intake behaviour and diet preference of grazing sheep

摘要: Abstract Abstract. In separate experiments, the effects of fasting on intake behaviour and diet preference sheep, Ovis aries, were explored by comparing animals that had been fasted for 24 h with control not fasted. Intake its components (prehension bite rate mass) compared in grazing from monocultures perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne , white clover, Trifolium repens. The studied releasing flocks three sheep onto 0·25 ha plots land, which either 20% clover (and 80% grass) or grass), area. Within each 12 flocks, one focal animal was recorded first third days following fasting. Fasting led to a significant increase (42% higher 72% achieved largely an mass. Both non-fasted significantly greater when eating than grass, but spent lower proportion their time (82% versus 92% animals). These results show only increased animals' drive eat (grazing rate) also altered composition. This study lends support use state-dependent modelling suggests researchers should be wary studies selection experimental