AbstractThe results are reported of an examination of detailed measurements on the ingestive behaviour of calves and lambs in response to variations in the surface characteristics of swards under strip‐grazing and continuous stocking managements. It is shown that intake per bite and the short‐term rate of herbage intake were both sensitive to the height of the surface horizon above ground level but, at least under strip‐grazing management, not to variations in herbage density in the grazed horizon. The rate of biting was less sensitive to variations in sward conditions, particularly under strip‐grazing.Both intake per bite and rate of intake were more sensitive to variations in grazing height under strip‐grazing, where sward changes were rapid, than under continuous stocking, where they were slow. Under continuous stocking, ingestive behaviour was more sensitive to changes in sward conditions in lambs than