Seasonal variations in plasma phosphorus levels of transhumant sheep in Kordofan, Sudan.

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.