Although the amount of food given to dry sows in commercial situations is nutritionally adequate for maintenance and reproductive performance, it may not be adequate in other aspects. There is evidence that low levels of food intake increase the incidence of abnormal behaviours. It might be desirable to feed greater amounts, but without causing excessive nutrient intake and obesity of the sow which occur when feeding commercially used diets at high levels. One solution might be to provide bulky, low density diets. The objectives of this experiment were to obtain information on level and variation in voluntary food intake in dry sows on fibrous diets and on the relationship between chemical aspects of the diet, intake, and apparent digestibility.