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TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN THE TRANSFER OF SODIUM FROM SOIL AND DIETARY SOURCES TO GRAZING LIVESTOCK IN A SEMI-ARID RANCH, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

ZAFAR. I. KHAN^1*, M. ASHRAF², M. DANISH³ AND KAFEEL AHMAD¹

Abstract: This investigation was carried out in the semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan to determine the sodium status in plant forages and grazing sheep therein, alongwith assessing the soil samples. From the pasture soil, forage, feed, water and animal samples (Blood plasma, milk, faeces, and urine) were collected fortnightly during winter and summer seasons. These samples were analyzed for sodium concentrations in plant forages which were found below those recommended for optimum ruminant production during both seasons of the year. Seasons did not affect soil, forage and plasma Na⁺ concentrations. These samples were lower than the required range in relation to Na levels for ruminants. The fecal, urine, and milk Na⁺ losses were found to be responsible for low plasma Na⁺ status in different goat classes. From these results it is concluded that high levels of this element should be supplied in the feed supplements used at different times of the year to prevent the sodium deficiency in grazing goats in this ranch.
 

^1*Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.

²Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

³Department of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

¹*Corresponding Author: drzafar10@hotmail.com