FEEDING-BEHAVIOR AND THE INTAKE OF FOOD AND WATER BY SHEEP AFTER A PERIOD OF DEPRIVATION LASTING 14 H

After 14 h of confinement in a stationary trailer, sheep were found to have lost proportionately a mean of 0.057 of their body weight. Two e xperiments, one with a heterogeneous flock (28.6 to 93.2 kg body weigh t) and the other with a more homogeneous flock (32.4 to 46.6 kg) showe d very little recovery of this loss after 1 h of ad libitum food and w ater. When offered familiar concentrates, sheep ate on average 1.2 kg per animal in the 1st h, water only being taken in quantity (> 5.01 pe r animal) in the next 6 h. Hay was taken at a much lower rate (0.25 kg per animal) and less water drunk (1.51 per animal). Competitive socia l interactions were Jive times more frequent during hay feeding than d uring concentrate feeding. After 14 h of confinement a break of Ih is evidently insufficient for feeding and watering and could result in po or welfare. If concentrates are offered, the resulting water deficit w ill not be redressed within 1 h, resulting in it strong motivation to drink when no water is available. If hay is offered, the heightened le vel of competitive social interaction could also result in poor welfar e.