[Ingestive behavior of sheep fed a hay-based diet over a six-month period]

Ingestive behavior and voluntary intake of sheep were evaluated for six months, From October to April, in Belgium. Sheep were kept indoors and fed hay nd libitum at 9 a.m. and 16 p.m.. The smallest and largest voluntary intakes were registered, respectively, in December/January and March/April. Unitary eating and ruminating times were smaller in March/April than in January. The number of meals and ruminating periods were larger in January than in March/April and February, respectively. The mean duration of meals was longer in March/April than in January. There was an influence of period in which the measurements of intake and ingestive behavior were made, which was partially attributed to changes in the photoperiod.