VOLUMETRIC BONE DENSITY, MORPHOLOGICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FEMUR AND TIBIA IN FARM TURKEYS WITH LEG DEFORMITIES

摘要

The aim of this study was to determine changes in quality of skeletal system in healthy or suffering from leg deformities farm turkeys by measuring volumetric bone density of trabecular and cortical bone, geometrical and mechanical properties of femurand tibia. All animals were kept under standard rearing conditions of commercial turkey farms, with constant access to water and appropriate feed, supplied in accordance with the stage of production cycle. Bone samples were collected from two differentgroups of turkeys after finishing the production cycle. To the first group belonged control turkeys with physiologically developed and properly functioning skeletal system. The second group consisted of turkeys which suffered from leg deformities and impaired locomotory function. Volumetric bone density of femur and tibia were estimated for trabecular and cortical bone separately, using Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) method. Both mechanical properties of femur and tibia, determined in INSTRON 4302 apparatus and geometrical properties of the investigated bones were estimated according to Ferrett's method. The obtained results indicate that turkeys with leg deformities and impaired locomotory function were characterised by decreased mechanical properties and trabecular bone density of femur and tibia, when compared to control turkeys with physiologically developed skeletal system.