The objectives of the study were to (i) obtain estimates of pre- and postprandial
correlations in the three species, (ii) quantify in probabilistic terms exactly how
interval length affects meal size and vice versa and (iii) test whether prandial correlations
were affected by selection intensity for growth in broilers. Pre-prandial correlations were
statistically significant but interval length had almost no effect on meal size in ducks and
turkeys and explained only 7–18% of the variation in meal size in broilers.