Mechanical properties of metacarpal bones of foals fed different energy and phosphorous levels

Abstract

SummaryThe mechanical and geometric properties of metacarpal bones of 41 Quarter Horse yearlings fed diets with different energy and phosphorus levels were tested and compared. A 2 times 3 factorial experiment was used to compare 2 energy sources and 3 levels of dietary phosphorus. The 2 energy sources were based either on alfalfa (2.65 Mcal digestible energy [DE]/kg dry matter [DM] feed) or on grain (3.09 Mcal DE/kg DM). In each diet type, the 3 phosphorus concentrations included: an unsupplemented, low phosphorus (LP) diet; a normal phosphorus (NP) diet supplemented to meet NRC (1978) requirements for weanling foals; and a high phosphorus (HP) diet supplemented to supply 150% of 1978 NRC phosphorus requirements. At the completion of the feeding trial, the yearling horses were destroyed and the metacarpal bones recovered. The left metacarpus was serially sectioned at 0.5 cm thicknesses with a band saw and a section was sampled for histology and measurement of geometric properties including the rectangular moments of inertia (Ix, Iy), the products of inertia and principal moments of inertia (Ixx, Iyy). The moments of inertia were then recalculated to the change in orientation of the x‐y axes and symbolised Ix1 and Iy1. Energy intakes were similar despite differences in energy content of the forage and grain diets. However, forage‐fed yearlings had lower (p<0.0589) breaking strengths (23.4 kilograms per square inch [ksi] than grain‐fed horses (25.4 ksi). The geometric properties between LP and NP groups did not differ. However, the geometric properties (Ix1, Ixx, Iyy) differed (p<0.05) between the HP groups and the LP and NP groups. Within the NP group, (Iyy) differed (p<0.038) between males and females. The right metacarpus, with both small metacarpal bones removed but with the periosteum intact, was loaded in a 4‐point bending until failure. The metacarpal bones were placed in a specially‐made Instron tester made so that the mid‐diaphyses were loaded. All bones failed in a single plane at right angles to the main axis of the bone. Seventeen of the 41 bones (41.5%) fractured through the nutrient foramen. The mechanical properties of males and females did not differ except in the NP group wherein stiffness of the metacarpal bone of females was lower (p<0.05). In the NP group, males were 14% heavier (p<0.0384) than females. Although most mechanical properties did not differ between the LP and NP groups, the HP group had a higher load at yield point (6397 N) than the LP group (5789 N). Phosphorus intakes, therefore, affect both mechanical strength and geometric properties of growing horses.