[Feeding pattern of the landes goose]

This is a study of the comparative physiology of the feeding sequence in 24 Landes geese fed ad libitum. The relative parameters of feeding behavior and the apparatuses used have been described. We found that the 24-hour light/dark cycle, corresponding to maximal ingestion, was not the same in all the animals studied. Two groups were distinguished: those tending to be diurnal and those tending to be nocturnal. The feeding pattern of the animals in each group and from day to day was constant. The correlation between the amount ingested during the meal and the length of pre or post-prandial intervals showed great variation, and the choice of meal definition considerably affected the results.