Phosphorus balance disorders in dairy cows The period of greatest risk for phosphorus balance disorders is during the first weeks of lactation29 April 2024 29 April 2024 5 minute read 5 minute read By: By: Chris Wright EuropeEditor's note: article includes excerpts from a presentation by Walter Grünberg, DVM, PhD, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, German, during the 2023 Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference. Phosphorus in serum or plasma is a decent reflection of the short-term P supply, but a poor indicator of the total P balance in the body. Feed intake depressionAnorexia or feed intake depression is the most consistent symptom associated with P deficiency across species. Feed intake depression was also observed after shorter periods of P deprivation in transition dairy cows. Postparturient hemoglobinuriaPostparturient hemoglobinuria (PPH) is characterized by intravascular hemolysis predominantly occurring in multiparous dairy cows in their first weeks of lactation.