The present study was carried out at the Experimental farm of Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, SouthValleyUniversity, Qena during the period from October to December 2009. A field study was conducted to evaluate the Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium status of Ossimi ewes and their lambs at parturition and early lactation raised under intensive and Semi-intensive systems in upper Egypt. Forty Ossimi Ewes of 3 to 3.5 years age were selected randomly from a herd, at parturition. The animals were devided into two equal groups the first group was raised under intensive system fed concentrate ration and the second was raised under Semi–intensive system grazed natural pasture and by-product. Blood samples from ewes and their newborns were taken at parturition, 30 and 60 days postpartum. Moreover, milk samples were collected at time of blood sampling. Samples were prepared and analyzed for Calcium and Magnesium by AAS and Phosphorus by Spectrophotometer.
A significant different (P<0.01) was found in Ca concentration in blood serum of ewes in group 1 only at 30 days postpartum compared with group 2. The levels of serum Ca of ewes' in-group 2 were below the normal level especially at 30 days postpartum. Phosphorus concentrations in serum of ewes and the newborns in both groups were adequate throughout early lactation. Magnesium concentration in blood serum of ewes and their lambs in group1 were significantly (P< 0.05) higher and adequate at parturition and early lactation compared with ewes from group 2. The milk Ca% in-group1 were significantly higher (P< 0.01) at parturition and 60 days postpartum, as well as the P% at parturition and 30 days postpartum (P< 0.05), while Mg% was only at parturition (P< 0.01). Milk DM% of ewes in-group 1 were significantly (P< 0.01) higher compared with group 2 at parturition and at 60 days postpartum (P< 0.001), while OM% was only at 60 day postpartum (P< 0.001).