Forage and Serum Phosphorus Values for Bighorn Sheep

Abstract

Total phosphorus values were determined monthly for winter and summer range forages in the East Kootenay Region of British Columbia. Phosphorus was high in succulent growing forages from both ranges but declined during the seed head and cured stages. The major decline for phosphorus in winter range forage was 57.1% during late summer. Serum inorganic phosphorus values for bighorn sheep were between 4.73 and 5.08 mg percent during the winter period, when plant phosphorus was between 500 and 800 ppm.