[Feed intake of ewes in the perinatal period]

8 individual feeding experiments served the ascertainment of the consumption performance of ewes in the perinatal phase. In 6 experiments with a total of 176 fertility oriented ewes the daily intake of pelleted straw-concentrate mixtures between the 4th week ante partum and the 6th week post partum was determined. On average the ewes consumed 1701 g dry matter in the last phase of gestation and 2271 g DM during lactation per animal and day. Intense grinding and NaOH-treatment increased feed intake; high straw content, limited duration of feeding and NH3-treatment decreased it. A higher number of lambs had, in the last phase of gestation, a decreasing and during lactation an increasing effect on consumption. Maize silage in the last phase of gestation resulted in very low feed intake. In contra to this, rations of alfalfa hay and maize silage were consumed well during lactation. There were no significant differences due to species or age with regard to consumption performance.