Abstract
Two-day trials were conducted with ewes in early lactation. A pelleted ration (45% conc-55% roughage) was fed for a period of three hours at 8 AM and 3:30 PM. On day 1 sufficient feed was offered to insure ad libitum consumption at both periods. On day 2 the AMfeed was limited to one-half the amount consumed dur ing the pre-experimental AMperiod, and the PM feed was ad libitum. Carotid and jugu lar blood samples were taken at 0, 0.5, 1.5, 3 and 7 hours after the AMmeal. Correlations were calculated between AMand PM feeding periods on days 1 and 2. Interval feed con sumption was measured after 0.5, 1.5 and 3 hours in the AMand 0.5 and 3 hours in the PM. Seventy percent of the feed was consumed in the first 20 to 30 minutes. Blood vola tile fatty acids (VFA) and ketones increased markedly and peaked at 3 hours (day 1) and 1.5 hours (day 2). Blood glucose levels dropped sharply by 0.5 hour but increased significantly by 1.5 hours on both days. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) decreased on both days, but rose markedly on day 2 by 7 hours. Acetate, propionate and glucose levels were poorly correlated to feed intake patterns. Ketone correlations, although low, had a pattern similar to butyrate correlations. Butyrate and FFA levels were the most highly correlated to subsequent VFI. FFA concentration at 7 hours was the best single predictor of subsequent feed intake, accounting for 50% of the variation (fi2 = 0.496).
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