PJB-2010-410
EVALUATION OF POTASSIUM STATUS OF RAMS: THE USE OF PASTURE AND BLOOD PLASMA AS INDICATORS UNDER SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
ZAFAR IQBAL KHAN1*, KAFEEL AHMAD1, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF2,3, SYED ALI HASSAN NAQVI1, SHAHNEELA KASHAF1, ABID EJAZ1 AND EHSAN ELAHI VALEEM4
Abstract
The present study was conducted to assess the potassium (K) status of soil, forage, and blood plasma of male sheep (rams) at Livestock Experimental Station, Khizerabad, Sargodha, Pakistan. Soil, forage, and blood samples were obtained on monthly basis and analyzed after wet digestion to determine the sampling period effect on K in these variables, in addition to the transfer of K in soil-, forage-animal system during this investigation period. The K levels of soil, forage and blood plasma were significantly influenced by the sampling periods and these were found to be above the critical value established for these markers. The forage was deficient in K particularly in the beginning of the growth stage. Plasma had adequate level of K for the normal requirement of rams being reared at this livestock farm, but deficiency of K may be expected during the early season because of deficient level of K in forages. Occasional supplementation of K with locally accessible feed sources and mineral mixture having high availability of this element may alleviate the deficiency if occurs at any time at this animal farm.
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