Six steers with rumen cannulas and exteriorized carotid arteries were fed chopped alfalfa, orchardgrass, or tall fescue hay in ambient temperatures (18 and 32 degrees C) using a factorial arrangement of forage and temperature with repeated measurements. Arterial blood, venous blood, and rumen fluid were sampled for VFA at 0, 2, 4, and 7 h after forage was offered. Rate of digestion of plant cell wall was determined by in vitro methods. Rate of ingesta and particulate passage was determined by 144Ce marker. Volatile fatty acid concentrations in blood plasma and rumen fluid were not related to forage voluntary intake. Voluntary forage intake was related to calculated ruminal disappearance of cell wall (r2 of .94). Elevated ambient temperature, 32 degrees C, depressed voluntary forage intake but did not increase ruminal or blood VFA concentrations.