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Relationship of Dietary Caloric Density and Certain Blood Metabolites to Voluntary Feed Intake in Mature Wethers

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

Abstract

WHEN diets containing 2.8, 3.0 and 3.2 kcal/g dry matter were fed to sheep during a 3-hr. am feeding period, DE intakes were not significantly different at 15, 30, 60, 120 or 180 min. after feeding. DM intakes decreased linearly with increased energy concentration. Sixty-two and 73% of the total intake during a 3 hr. feeding period was consumed in the first 15 and 30 min., respectively. These data suggest that the animal adjusts to varying energy concentrations in the diet as early as 15 min. following the initiation of eating.

Plasma insulin levels reflected metabolic activities which were associated with feeding patterns. On these diets, similar DM intakes and insulin levels were noted for the Medium-and High-concentrate diets. The Low-concentrate diet resulted in lower insulin levels and a greater DM intake. Glucose and FFA blood levels were not uniquely related to the feeding pattern.

The sensivity of the animal to early energy intake supports the existence of a "set point" which must be reached in order for meal moderation or termination to occur. The prompt responses of the animals to the treatments imposed in these studies suggests that any regulatory mechanism acts rapidly to integrate information about the diet ingested, and to signal a response to modify intake.

¹ The authors are grateful for the expert care of the animals by Robert Brokaw and Trevor Black and for the assistance of J. R. Seoane during various phases of the study.