title: Seasonal variations in plasma phosphorus levels of transhumant sheep in Kordofan, Sudan.
abstract: Plasma phosphorus levels were evaluated for one hundred adult breeding ewes from transhumant producer flocks during the late rainy season (September 1984/1985), the mid-dry season (February 1985) and the late-dry season (May 1985). The percentage of non-pregnant/non-lactating ewes critically deficient in phosphorus increased from 9% in the rainy season to 56% in the late-dry season. In September 35% of pregnant ewes were critically deficient in phosphorus. During peak lactation (February) 87% of lactating ewes were critically deficient in phosphorus and 84% remained critically deficient until the start of the rainy season approximately 20 weeks postlambing. The low phosphorus content of grazing rations, which varied from 0.18% in the rainy season to 0.09% in the dry season, and low forage availability, which was especially acute during the late-dry season, appeared to be the most important factors limiting phosphorus intake.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood*; D013397:Sudan
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus