Mature sheep fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulae were fed either a hay or a concentrate diet and the effects on salivary phosphorus secretion, net intestinal phosphorous absorption and pathway for phosphorous excretion were examined. Route of excretion was markedly affected by diet with urine phosphorus levels being much higher and faecal levels lower when the concentrate diet was fed. This difference was not due to differences in phosphorus intake nor could it be related to differences in either plasma phosphorus levels or net intestinal phosphorus absorption. Salivary phosphorus secretion and renal tubular reabsorptive efficiency for phosphorus were, however, both lower when the concentrate diet was fed. The significance of these effects of diet in relation to the control of phosphorus balance in ruminants is discussed.