不同饵料养殖黄喉拟水龟效果的研究

用5种不同的饵料(中华鳖配合饲料、蚯蚓、鲢鱼肉、福寿螺肉和河蚌肉)分别投喂黄喉拟水龟幼龟,结果表明,①投喂中华鳖配合饲料的黄喉拟水龟,其增重速度最快,平均日增重和蛋白质效率都最高,且耗料增重比最低,其后依次是: 蚯蚓＞鲢鱼肉＞福寿螺肉＞河蚌肉.②投喂福寿螺肉的黄喉拟水龟,其饵料成本最低,其后依次是: 中华鳖配合饲料＞蚯蚓＞河蚌肉＞鲢鱼肉.③中华鳖配合饲料是养殖黄喉拟水龟较好的饵料,但福寿螺、蚯蚓来源方便,也不失为养殖黄喉拟水龟的好饵料.     

不同蛋白质水平的饵料对黄喉拟水龟生长影响的研究

依据单因子梯度设计原理,采用进口鱼粉、豆粕为主要蛋白源制成蛋白质含量分别为50.2%、47.3%、44.3%和41.4%共4种试验饵料,研究不同蛋白质水平饵料对黄喉拟水龟生长的影响.结果 表明,经过120 d对80只黄喉拟水龟幼龟的饲养,当饵料的蛋白质含量为47.3%时,黄喉拟水龟的生长速度最快,均显著高于其他3个组(P<0.05);蛋白质效率最高,极显著高于50.2%组(P<0.01),也分别显著高于44.3%组和41.4%组(P<0.05);耗料增重比最低,分别极显著低于44.3%组和50.2%组(P<0.01),也显著低于41.4%组(P<0.05).但不同蛋白质水平的饵料对黄喉拟水龟龟体蛋白质含量没有明显的影响(P>0.05).     

黄喉拟水龟的繁殖生物学研究

1998年4-11月对黄喉拟水龟的繁殖生物学进行了研究,在广东,黄喉拟水龟的产卵高峰期在5-6月,窝卵量1-7枚,平均2.5枚;卵重平均13.95g;长径平均4.34cm;短径平均2.23cm。卵重与卵长径呈正相关关系,在25-32℃、沙床含水量5-10%孵化条件下,孵化时间平衡73.8d,孵化率84.2%。初生稚龟均重9.75g。背甲长平均3.77cm;背甲宽平均2.91cm。稚龟体重与背甲长、宽呈极显著的正相关关系,稚龟经8-11月3个月生长,平均日增重0.149g。稚龟体重、背甲长、宽与日龄呈极显著的正相关关系。稚龟体重与背甲长宽也呈极显著的正相关关系。     

黄喉拟水龟（♀）与三线闭壳龟（♂）杂交后代的形态特征及其与父母本的比较研究

本研究通过黄喉拟水龟Mauremys mutica（♀）与三线闭壳龟Cuora trifasciata（♂）进行杂交,成功获得了杂种龟。这说明黄喉拟水龟和三线闭壳龟是可以进行属间远缘杂交的,但杂交组合的受精率及孵化成功率均低于黄喉拟水龟的同种组合。杂种稚龟与黄喉拟水龟稚龟在背甲纹路、腹甲黑斑、四肢和尾腹面的皮肤颜色、喉盾前端形状及起点位置、喉盾宽/喉盾缝长、喉盾缝长/肱盾缝长、股盾缝长/肛盾缝长存在差异。1龄前,杂种龟生长快于黄喉拟水龟。形态特征上,杂种龟头顶部淡棕黄色,头侧眼后有两条黑色纵纹,颈腹部淡黄色;背甲棕色,腹甲浅黄色,每一盾片中间都有边缘呈放射状的黑斑;四肢、尾腹面及裸露皮肤部分为黄褐色。形态可量数据分析显示杂种龟在形态上接近黄喉拟水龟。建立了三种龟的形态判别公式,判别的准确率为100%（p<0.01）,判别分析中贡献最大的4个变量分别是腹甲后半部长/背甲长、喉盾宽/背甲长、肱盾缝长/背甲长、股盾缝长/背甲长,可见三线闭壳龟、黄喉拟水龟与杂交种腹部的腹甲后半部长、喉盾宽、肱盾缝长、股盾缝长等参数可作为鉴别三者的直接依据。本实验的结果对杂种龟的鉴定、龟类的杂交育种及养殖生产实践都有一定的借鉴作用。     

黄喉拟水龟摩氏摩根菌的分离鉴定及药敏试验

<正>黄喉拟水龟(Mauremys mutica),俗称石龟、石金钱龟、黄板龟等,为龟科拟水龟属,主要分布于中国江苏、安徽、福建以及越南、日本等。黄喉拟水龟具有食用、药用和观赏价值,近年来野生资源日趋减少,人工养殖发展迅速。细菌性病原感染是黄喉拟水龟养殖过程中常见疾病,目前已报道黏质沙雷氏菌(Serratia marcescens)[1]、松鼠葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus sciuri)[2]、摩氏摩根菌(Morganella morganii)[3]、嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌(Stenotrophmomas     

湿度对黄喉拟水龟胚胎发育与新生幼体特征的影响

黄喉拟水龟(Mauremys mutica Cantor)为东亚常见的淡水水生龟类之一,主要分布于中国、日本和越南.在中国,黄喉拟水龟已成为潜在的水产养殖品种,研究了湿度对黄喉拟水龟胚胎发育和新生幼体的影响.恒温29℃时,用未受精卵做对比,在-12、-150kPa和-300kPa 3种孵化湿度下,观察并记录了黄喉拟水龟胚胎发育过程中卵重的变化、孵化周期、孵化成功率、卵壳龟裂率、卵壳受精斑变化规律及新生幼体的特征.在-12kPa和-150kPa处理组,受精卵在孵化中期开始持续增重;而在-300kPa处理组,受精卵在孵化中期开始持续减轻;孵化湿度显著影响卵壳受精斑的变化,-12kPa处理组的受精斑绕卵短径合拢的时间显著长于-150kPa和-300kPa处理组;受精卵的卵壳龟裂率随着孵化湿度的增加而增加;湿度显著影响新生幼体体重和背甲宽,但对体高、背甲长、腹甲长、腹甲宽以及尾长无明显影响;孵化湿度对孵化周期及新生幼体的运动能力影响不明显.     

不同饵料和水温对口虾蛄成活、生长及育肥性能的影响

为比较不同饵料、水温对口虾蛄(Oratosquilla oratoria)在越冬期间生长育肥及性腺发育的影响,选用当年池塘养殖口虾蛄[初始体重(21.99±4.86)g,n=600]为研究对象,在养殖设施相同条件下,研究了在自然水温(7.7～13.6℃)和加温(17.1～20.9℃)条件下投喂去壳蛤蜊(Ruditapes philippinarum)和冰鲜杂鱼对口虾蛄的成活率、体长、体宽、体重、性腺指数、肌肉指数及可食率等7项指标的影响。实验共分常温蛤蜊、常温冰鲜杂鱼、加温蛤蜊和加温冰鲜杂鱼4个实验组,实验周期为90 d。结果显示:(1)加温可使口虾蛄成活率显著降低,温度是影响口虾蛄越冬成活的重要因素之一;(2)在整个实验过程中口虾蛄的体长、体宽和体重3项生物学指标均随实验天数的增加呈增长趋势,但各指标不同时间均不存在显著性差异(P 0.05);(3)常温条件比加温条件更有益于口虾蛄性腺指数的增加,其中以常温投喂去壳蛤蜊的效果最好,其性腺指数平均可达14.53%(♀)和7.69%(♂);(4)在整个实验过程中,口虾蛄的肌肉指数随实验进行总体呈上升趋势,除常温蛤蜊与加温蛤蜊实验组间的口虾蛄可食率存在显著性差异(P 0.05)外,其他各实验组两两之间均不存在显著性差异(P0.05);(5)不同饵料和水温的交互影响结果表明,温度是影响口虾蛄性腺指数的重要因素(P 0.01),饵料仅对雌性口虾蛄性腺指数产生显著性影响(P 0.01)。实验结果表明,相对于加温环境,常温环境基本能满足口虾蛄越冬期间的生长和育肥的需求,特别是在10～13℃的水温条件;与冰鲜杂鱼相比,摄食去壳蛤蜊更有利于口虾蛄的性腺发育积累。     

基于微卫星多重PCR技术的黄喉拟水龟亲子鉴定

利用黄喉拟水龟(Mauremys mutica)微卫星标记,筛选出16对微卫星引物,通过优化各引物比例、荧光接头浓度、退火温度和循环次数,建立了基于2组各含8个微卫星位点多重PCR体系的黄喉拟水龟亲子鉴定技术。应用2组微卫星多重PCR体系,通过ABI3130遗传分析仪以及cervus3.0软件对428只黄喉拟水龟进行了个体基因型检测和遗传多样性分析,结果显示,群体的平均等位基因数为14.190,平均多态信息含量为0.748,平均观测杂合度和期望杂合度分别为0.687、0.771。对89只候选母本及296只子代进行亲子鉴定分析,结果显示:在父本信息未知时,母本鉴定率为87%;母本获得的子代个数范围为1-12,个体间表现出巨大的差异,这为选择育种提供了物质基础。黄喉拟水龟多重PCR亲子鉴定技术的建立为群体遗传多样性分析、家系鉴定管理和选择育种提供了有效的技术手段。       

切尾拟鲿的个体生殖力

于2013年4～5月在长江上游岷江河口区域采集63尾性腺发育至Ⅳ期的切尾拟鲿(Pseudobagrus truncatus)雌性个体,所有样本均测量其体长(L)、体重(M)、净体重(W)和性腺重(Wa)等生物学指标。取耳石鉴定年龄,测量卵径,用重量法计数个体绝对生殖力(F),并对体长相对生殖力(FL)、体重相对生殖力(FW)进行计算,用5种数学模型及多元逐步回归方程拟合个体生殖力与生物学指标的关系。结果显示,调查样本由2+～5+龄组成,个体绝对生殖力(F)为566～6758粒,平均为3056粒;体长相对生殖力(FL)68～469粒/cm,平均为234粒/cm;体重相对生殖力(FW)为45～349粒/g,平均为145粒/g。个体绝对生殖力(F)和体长相对生殖力(FL)与体长(L)、体重(M)和成熟系数(GSI)均呈幂函数相关;而体重相对生殖力(FW)仅与成熟系数(GSI)呈幂函数相关,和其他形态指标的相关性不显著。多元逐步回归分析结果表明,长江上游切尾拟鲿个体绝对生殖力(F)与体重(M)和成熟系数(GSI)密切相关,相关式为:F=16370.714+3284.028 GSI+58.361M(n=63,R2=0.973,P0.01);体长相对生殖力(FL)与体重(M)、净体重(W)和成熟系数(GSI)密切相关,相关式为:FL=251.749+18.961 M+684.273 W+3 268.421 GSI(n=63,R2=0.852,P0.01);而体重相对生殖力(FW)仅与成熟系数(GSI)相关:FW=138.590+837.641 GSI(n=63,R2=0.539,P0.01)。依据卵径频数分布结果推测,切尾拟鲿属于一次性产卵鱼类。     

基于线粒体ND4基因和核c-mos基因初步探讨广西拟水龟和艾氏拟水龟的系统发生

广西拟水龟和艾氏拟水龟的分类和系统发生多年来存在争议。通过测定广西拟水龟、艾氏拟水龟和黄喉拟水龟线粒体ND4基因和核c-mos基因部分序列,合并GenBank中拟水龟属其他物种的ND4基因和c-mos基因部分序列进行分析,从分子水平探讨广西拟水龟和艾氏拟水龟的系统发生。ND4基因数据分析发现NJ、MP和BI树中广西拟水龟与安南拟水龟的聚类分支相互交织聚为一支,二者种内遗传距离均为0.002～0.017,种间遗传距离为0.000～0.035,种间遗传距离明显小于同属内其他种间0.056～0.109的遗传距离,表明广西拟水龟与安南拟水龟可能为同一物种,可能是安南拟水龟的同种异名,或是作为安南拟水龟的一个亚种;NJ树、MP树和BI树均显示,艾氏拟水龟与黄喉拟水龟的位置和关系最为相近,二者间的遗传距离为0.020～0.035,明显小于拟水龟属其他物种间遗传距离,而明显大于同属各物种内遗传距离,艾氏拟水龟与黄喉拟水龟之间系统分类关系是介于种内与种间之间;乌龟、中华花龟、安南拟水龟等物种都是与拟水龟属中其他物种先聚成一支后再与同科的地龟属的地龟形成姐妹支,支持将乌龟属、花龟属和安南龟属并入拟水龟属的分类。c-mos基因数据分析发现,拟水龟属各物种间不存在明显的遗传距离,NJ树和MP树也未能对属中各物种的分子系统发生位置进行有效的界定,但在属及属以上阶元的分子分类系统中c-mos基因可以作为分类依据,并与线粒体基因数据有较好的一致性。     

黄喉拟水龟细胞核DNA含量的分析

以黄喉拟水龟 (Mauremysmutica)的红血细胞为材料 ,以鸡红血细胞为DNA标准 ( 2 5pg/2c) ,采用流式细胞仪测定了黄喉拟水龟及其两个种群的细胞核基因组DNA含量。黄喉拟水龟的细胞基因组DNA含量为 5 16± 0 2 9pg/2c (n =6 0 ) ;南方种群的细胞核DNA含量为 5 19± 0 30pg/2c (n =30 ) ,北方种群为 5 14±0 30pg/2c (n =30 ) ,两个种群的核DNA含量无显著差异 (t=0 6 84 7,df =5 8,P >0 0 5 )。     

Growth and feeding of juvenile pike <Emphasis Type="Italic">Esox lucius</Emphasis> (Esocidae) of different hatching dates during its first months of life

Groups of fingerlings of the pike Esox lucius, that hatched from the eggs of the same female at the beginning and end of hatching are compared. It was found that larvae of pike of the beginning of hatching passed to external feeding earlier. In the period of mixed and exogenous feeding, they not only grew, but also developed more rapidly than larvae from the same brood. It was shown that pike juveniles of the end of hatching were characterized by a retarded development and growth in the first weeks of life (until reaching a length of 100 mm and a weight of 7 g). In the second month of life, specimens of this group began to feed intensively, grow, and according to body length and weight, reached pike juveniles of the beginning of hatching. Pike fingerlings of the end of hatching were characterized by compensation growth that was manifested at the excess of fish food (at cultivation in separate aquariums when the inhibitory effect of large fish on the growth of small fish was excluded) and in ponds where fish food availability was considerably lower.     

Effect of dietary restriction and subsequent realimentation on hepatic oxidative phosphorylation in cattle

Compensatory growth (CG) is a naturally accelerated growth which occurs upon realimentation, following a prior period of dietary restriction. The process is harnessed worldwide as a management practice to reduce feed costs in beef cattle production. The objective of this study was to assess the potential contribution of hepatic cellular mitochondrial capacity to CG through global hepatic oxidative phosphorylation gene expression analyses as well as functional mitochondrial enzyme activity assays. Holstein–Friesian bulls were separated into two groups: (i) restricted feed allowance for 125 days (Period 1) (RES; n = 30) followed by ad-libitum feeding for 55 days (Period 2) or (ii) ad-libitum access to feed throughout (Periods 1 and 2) (ADLIB; n = 30). At the end of each period, 15 animals from each treatment group were slaughtered and hepatic tissue was collected. Tissue samples were subjected to RNAseq and spectrophotometric analysis for the functional assessment of mitochondria. RES and ADLIB groups grew at 0.6 kg/day and 1.9 kg/day, respectively, during Period 1. During Period 2, the RES group underwent CG growing at 2.5 kg/day, with ADLIB animals gaining 1.4 kg/day. Oxidative phosphorylation genes were differentially expressed in response to both dietary restriction and CG. Spectrophotometric assays indicated that mitochondrial abundance was greater in animals undergoing dietary restriction at the end of Period 1 and subsequently reduced during realimentation (P < 0.02). Results indicate that mitochondrial capacity may be enhanced during dietary restriction to more effectively utilize diet-derived nutrients. However, enhanced mitochondrial capacity does not appear to be directly contributing to CG in cattle.     

Feeding rhythms and diet of Farfantepenaeus paulensis under pen culture in Patos Lagoon estuary, Brazil

The feeding habits of Farfantepenaeus paulensis under pen culture in the Patos Lagoon estuary (Brazil) were studied. A total of 1074 shrimp had their stomach contents analyzed. Samples were taken bi-hourly over a 24 h period at about 10 day intervals during 2 months. F. paulensis did not exhibit strict feeding periodicity (except at D_21-22 and D_32-33). Thus, the offering of feed pellets during daylight is recommended but the rates of feeding must be further investigated. F. paulensis showed an omnivorous feeding behavior. Despite daily supply of feed pellets, natural food comprised the major part of the shrimp stomach contents. Among prey organisms, polychaetes and tanaids were the main groups recorded. Consumption of detritus and plant material decreased as shrimp grew. Intake of feed pellets increased significantly in the second month of culture (i.e. 5 g mean shrimp weight), thus it might be possible to reduce the initial input of commercial feed.     

海岸带林草复合系统环境及其效应研究

在江苏东台海岸带防护林内设置5个林分密度小区,记录各小区不同生长季节的光照、地面温度和地面相对湿度及其日变化,测定牧草的蒸腾作用、营养价值及其生物量的变化,分析林草复合系统的环境特征及其生态效应,结果表明：林分郁闭度对光照强度变化的影响可分为3个阶段,低郁闭度时,郁闭度的变化对光照影响较小,中等郁闭度时影响最大,高郁闭度时影响又会减弱。生长季盛期,试区平均温度最高,为23.09±5.93℃,分别比初期和末期高24.3％和62.4％;此时平均相对湿度为91.61％±1.57％,分别高于初期24.4％和末期32.9％。生长季盛期苏丹草(Sorghum sudonense)的平均蒸腾强度为3659.82％±489.44g·dm-2·h-1,比末期高1.72％。在IV区茅叶荩草(Arthraxon pricnodes)单位面积的代谢能、饲料单位最高,分别为4.877×103kJ·m-2和3890.64FU·hm-2,比最低的Ⅰ区高77.54％和80.87％。不论是单个生长季的温度,还是几个生长季温度的组合,对于狗尾草(Setaria faberii)和苏丹草干重的影响都是不显著的,相对湿度也是如此。生长季初期的光照(L)对狗尾草生物量(Y)回归是显著的：Y= –724.19+0.063L;生长季末期的光照对苏丹草的生物量是显著的：Y= –1093.30+0.11 L。对于狗尾草,在生长季初期,试区内温度(T)、相对湿度(RH)和光照对其生物量的影响都是极显著的,其关系为：Y＝–3859.39+25.35T+23.03RH+0.11L;盛期时,只有相对湿度和光照的作用显著,关系为：Y＝1205.16+0.05L–14.84RH末期时,三因子中没有一个因子或因子的组合有显著作用。对于苏丹草,在生长季初期,温度和相对湿度的作用明显,其回归方程为：Y＝6186.48–69.38T–62.64RH;盛期时,温度、相对湿度和光照的作用都是显著的,其关系是：Y＝–3777.95+11.61 T+16.36RH+0.15L;而在末期,光照和相对湿度与苏丹草干重呈显著回归：Y＝–779.92+0.116L–5.59RH。     

深圳市社区公共卫生服务包运行的支持成本研究

目的 了解深圳市社区公共卫生服务包运行中除人力成本之外最基本的运行成本。方法 通过普查和抽样问卷调查2种方法，收集并计算管理、培训等几大类成本数据。结果 按每万服务人口计，服务包运行的基本支持与保障成本，如管理、培训、租金、折旧和水电维修成本分别为6.25万元、0.15万元、6.19万元、2.73万元和3.96万元。结论 每万服务人口的各类支持成本信息，使得各级财政在基本支持与保障成本的投入标准和方向的确定上具有参考价值。     

Improvement of nutritional quality of cultured sobaity sea bream,Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes) muscle by preharvest feeding of finisher feeds

A 6‐month long study was conducted to improve the nutritional quality of the cultured sobaity bream, Sparidentex hasta by feeding them finisher feeds containing high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at the last two months of the grow‐out stage so that the muscle DHA level be increased at par to the wild. A grow‐out feed used from the beginning until the end of the trial was considered as the control (Diet 1). Experimental diets 2 and 3 were formulated to contain 9.0% DHA (e.g. 1.68 g DHA/100 g feed) and 10.5% DHA (2.20 g DHA/100 g feed), by incorporating high DHA tuna oil into a sea bream grow‐out diet. For comparison, a commercial finisher feed (Diet 4) from Skretting, Italy was also used. The results of this study demonstrated that fish fed DHA enriched finisher diets resulted in significantly (p < .05) better growth, feed utilization and higher muscle eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA content compared to those fed grow‐out diet. The muscle DHA and EPA of fish fed finisher diets were also higher than those of the whole year average DHA and EPA content of wild sobaity. An organoleptic evaluation showed no significant (p > .05) differences between sensory attributes of muscle from cultured and wild sea bream. The results of the study demonstrated that feeding finisher feed enriched with DHA at the later part of the grow‐out operation, the n‐3 PUFA levels of cultured sobaity can cost‐effectively be increased at par to the wild.     

Effect of level of feed restriction during growth and/or fattening on fatty acid composition and lipogenic enzyme activity in heavy pigs

The influence of feeding system on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acids profile of subcutaneous backfat and lipogenic enzymes activity was studied. The following feeding systems were applied: HH: group of 12 pigs fed with a high feeding level during growth and fattening periods; HL: group of 12 pigs fed with a high feeding level during growth period and a low feeding level during fattening period; LH: group of 12 pigs fed with a low feeding level during growth period and a high feeding level during fattening period; LL: group of 12 pigs fed with a low feeding system during growth and fattening periods. The high and low feeding levels applied during growth and fattening periods were 70 and 35 g feed/kg live weight^0.75 (LW^0.75) day and 121 and 87 g feed/kg LW^0.75 day, respectively. The duration of the growth period was 163 days in all groups. The ages at slaughter of HH, HL, LH and LL pigs were approximately 383, 406, 439 and 503 days, respectively. The HH and LL pigs had the higher and lower average daily gain respectively, while the LH pigs presented the best feed conversion ratio during fattening period. At slaughter, the LL pigs had the higher value of loin width and the lower values of backfat thicknesses and Longissimus dorsi muscle intramuscular fat percentage (P<0.05). The subcutaneous backfat outer and inner layers from LH and LL pigs had a significantly (P<0.05) higher proportion of C18:1 n-9 and ΣMUFA (monounsaturated) acids than those from HH and HL pigs. The subcutaneous backfat inner layer from LL pigs had a lower C16:0 and ΣSFA (saturated) acids proportions than those from remaining groups of pigs. The activity of the fatty acid synthase (FAS) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzymes, measured in subcutaneous backfat, at the end of growing period was significantly (P<0.05) higher in pigs fed high feeding level during growing phase. An increase of feeding level during the fattening phase led to an increase in the activity of G6PD enzyme. In conclusion, a marked effect of feeding system was observed on pig productivity and fatty acid composition.     

Effects of 460 MHz microwave radiation on Drosophila embryos under raised temperature

Combined effect of 460-MHz microwave irradiation and increased (up to 40 degrees C) temperature on Drosophila embryos of definite age was studied. It was demonstrated that the effect of 5-min exposures to non-modulated microwaves with 6 W/kg SAR accompanied with heating is only a little stronger than at normal temperature (24.5 degrees C). Irradiation with pulse-modulated microwaves with pulse repetition rates of 6, 10, 16, and 22 p.p.s. with average SAR of 0.12 W/kg (pulsed SAR 3 W/kg) combined with increased temperature caused some changes in PID dependent on the pulse rate. At 6 and 22 p.p.s, the increase in PID was close to that observed at normal temperature while at 10 and 16 p.p.s. the microwave irradiation did not produce any noticeable effect on development of the Drosophilas.     

The importance of hormonal circadian rhythms in daily feeding patterns: An illustration with simulated pigs

The interaction between hormonal circadian rhythms and feeding behaviour is not well understood. This study aimed to deepen our understanding of mechanisms underlying circadian feeding behaviour in animals, using pigs, Sus scrofa, as a case study. Pigs show an alternans feeding pattern, that is, a small peak of feed intake at the beginning of the day and a larger peak at the end of the day. We simulated the feeding behaviour of pigs over a 24 h period. The simulation model contained mechanisms that regulate feeding behaviour of animals, including: processing of feed in the gastrointestinal tract, fluctuation in energy balance, circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol and motivational decision-making. From the interactions between these various processes, feeding patterns (e.g. feed intake, meal frequency, feeding rate) emerge. These feeding patterns, as well as patterns for the underlying mechanisms (e.g. energy expenditure), fitted empirical data well, indicating that our model contains relevant mechanisms. The circadian rhythms of cortisol and melatonin explained the alternans pattern of feeding in pigs. Additionally, the timing and amplitude of cortisol peaks affected the diurnal and nocturnal peaks in feed intake. Furthermore, our results suggest that circadian rhythms of other hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, are less important in circadian regulation of feeding behaviour than previously thought. These results are relevant to animal species with a metabolic and endocrine system similar to that of pigs, such as humans. Moreover, the modelling approach to understand feeding behaviour can be applied to other animal species.