Abstract
To decrease the incidence of leg weakness which occurs frequently in domestic animals and poultry, a series of studies on the effects of feed factors such as nutrients and that level on the mechanical and physical properties of articular components and bone shaft of swine femur were carried out.
Furthermore, the effects of feed factors on the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis and osteoarthrosis were also investigated.
As a first step of the studies, indentation tests to analyse the mechanical properties of abnormal and normal articular components, were carried out using an articular cartilage-cancellous bone composite of swine femur. values for the indentation strength of the composite in swine about 2 to 6 months old ranged approximately from 22 to 34N/mm2. On the other hand, the values for the indentation strength of the abnormal composite with osteochondrosis and/or osteoarthrosis lesions were lower and ranged approximately from 16 to 23N/mm2, indicating that the support function of body weight has decreased.
Moreover, it was demonstrated that the apparent modulus of elasticity of the composite increased with time and that the femur head became gradually harder.
