Factors influencing herbage intake

• The feeding drive reflects the animal’s current demand for nutrients, principally energy.
• The sensation of physical satiety is caused by the volume of digesta in the tract.
• Behavioral constraints that limit the potential rate of herbage consumption.

Factors affecting feed demand

a) Live weight and body composition

• Large animals consume more than smaller animals due to large tissue mass.
• Lean tissue turns over at a faster rate than fat and thus maintenance costs are greater for young animals.

b) lactation

• Lactating animals consume more feed than non-lactating animals to meet the extra demands of milk production.

c) Pregnancy

• Energy demand increases exponentially in the last third of pregnancy but responses in feed intake are often small.

d) Climatic effects

• Animals eat more in cold conditions and less in hot conditions.