SEASONAL EFFECTS ON CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS STATUS IN FEEDSTUFFS, SOIL, WATER AND SHEEP BLOOD PLASMA OF DISTRICT SHEIKHUPURA OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
In spite of a large population of sheep and goats in Pakistan, a lot of hurdles are ahead regarding their production especially nutritional. The minerals become more important for small ruminants because they are mainly fed on grazing without balanced feed and mineral supplementation. These animals have to rely on grasses and forages. The availability and concentration of minerals in forages are influenced by rainfall, soil type and the stage of maturity and variety of the forages. A study plan was made to estimate the variation in the status of Ca and P of feedstuffs, water, soil and plasma of sheep in district Sheikhupura of Punjab, Pakistan during summer and winter seasons. The district was categorized into five sites depending on the population of sheep in the area, fodder production and topography of the soil. The samples of blood (10 samples× 5 sites × 2 seasons =100 samples), soil (6 samples × 5 sites × 2 season = 60 samples), water (6 samples × 5 sites × 2 season = 60 samples) and available feedstuffs were taken and analyzed for Ca and P using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and Spectrophotometer. The Ca was found statistically deficit in sorghum fodder (0.248%), grasses (0.38%) and wheat grain (0.225%), whereas, Ca (2.15%) of toria fodder was found in normal range. There were normal P values for cotton seed cake (0.974%), corn grain (0.458%) and barseem (0.369%) fodder were estimated however, wheat straw (0.0891%) value was found deficient in phosphorus. Significant (p<0.05) difference was observed for P in blood of sheep during winter and summer season and nonsignificant difference (p>0.05) was observed for Ca during the winter season. The Ca and P of soil showed significance (p<0.05) among the sites and between the seasons while there was no change (p >0.05) in Ca and P profile in water throughout the year.
Keywords: calcium, phosphorous, feedstuff, plasma, sheep
