Voluntary food intake and reproduction

The underlying assumption I will make is that voluntary food intake is normally controlled so as to meet the requirements of the animal, especially for energy.This control is achieved by positive and negative feedbacks involving many pathways, in particular visceral receptors in communication with the central nervous system.Reproductive processes do not, on the whole, interfere seriously with this regulation and changes in nutrient demand, for example during lactation, are accompanied by the appropriate changes in voluntary intake.However, some of the changes which accompany reproductive processes have particular effects on intake which may have important implications, particularly in farm animals.