Computed tomographic and densitometric analysis of tibiotarsal bone mineral density and content in postnatal Peking ducks (Anas platyrhynchos var. domestica) as influenced by age and sex

The bone mineral density BMD and content BMC were analysed in the tibiotarsal bones of ducks in the postnatal development as influenced by age and sex. One hundred birds from the nesting till the slaughtering maturity were included in the experiment. The analysis was conducted using a densitometer, Norland - Excell Plus and pQCT computed tomography, XCT Research SA Plus. The statistical analysis was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (age) and the U-Mann -Withney test (sex). All calculations were performed in Statistica 9.0 (StatSoft, Inc. Tulsa, USA), at P ≤ 0.05. Two-factor analysis of variance ANOVA was applied and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated. The densitometer research showed that BMD and BMC increased in the postnatal development for both sexes. The volumetric bone mineral density vBMD analysis using computed tomography showed that volumetric bone mineral density vBMD of the middle of the diaphyses in situ gradually attenuated during the postnatal development both in males and females, i.e. from 620 mg/cm3 (2 wk) to 500 mg/cm3 (8 wk). The biggest vBMD loss was observed in the diaphyses of females in 4 and 6 wk (r = - 0.63 and r = - 0.79; P ≥ 0.05). The BMC decrease was observed in the proximal metaphyses between 4 and 6 wk for both sexes, r = - 0.52 (males), r = - 0.53 (females); P ≤ 0.05. The gradual loss may be the cause of deformities and fractures of the tibiotarsal bones observed from 4 wk in particular bone sections of both sexes. The achieved results may constitute a helpful source of information for water poultry breeders to prevent limb diseases.