Stereotypic behaviour in pregnant sows is related to food restriction, occurs in the post prandial period (Terlouw, Lawrence and Illius, 1991) and may be linked to continued existence of feeding motivation after a small meal of concentrate food (Lawrence and Illius 1989). Lawrence and Terlouw (1993) suggested that feeding motivation is heightened by positive feedback from the act of eating, while the negative feedback from absorbed nutrients may be insufficient to produce satiation. The resulting foraging behaviour is then channelled towards simple and repeated behavioural acts. In an attempt to manipulate positive feedback signals growing pigs were given a restricted food allowance in one, two or three meals per day and their behaviour was observed during the post-prandial period.