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Effects of diet calcium: phosporus ratio and metabolizable energy content on development of osteochondrosis, foot bending and performance in blue foxes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

H. T. Korhonen ,
M. Happo ,
T. Rekilä ,
J. Valaja  and
I. Pölönen
H. T. Korhonen*
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research, Fur Animals, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, FIN-69100 Kannus, Finland
M. Happo
Affiliation:
University of Kuopio, Institute of Biotechnology, PO Box 70211 Kuopio 21, Finland
T. Rekilä
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research, Fur Animals, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, FIN-69100 Kannus, Finland
J. Valaja
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research, Animal Nutrition, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
I. Pölönen
Affiliation:
Finnish Fur Breeders' Association, POBox 5, FIN-01601 Vantaa, Finland
*
†E-mail: hannu.t.korhonen@mtt.
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Abstract

Abstract The study evaluates the effects of two dietary Ca: P ratios (1·5: 1 v. 2·5: 1) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents (17·3 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) v. 19·2 MJ/kg DM) on the development of osteochondrosis, foot bending and performance in juvenile male blue foxes (Alopex lagopus). Four experimental groups (no. = 10 per group) were formed : (1) low energy, lagopus). low Ca: P (LELC); (2) normal energy, low Ca: P (NELC); (3) low energy, normal Ca: P (LENC); and (4) normal energy, normal Ca: P (NENC). The experiment started at weaning in mid July and finished in early October. From mid August onwards, animals on the normal energy diets (NELC, NENC) grew significantly faster (P < 0·001) than animals on the low energy diets (LELC, LENC). The final body weights of the normal energy groups were 1·5 kg higher than those of the low energy groups (P < 0·001). The dietary Ca: P ratio did not affect live-weight gain. Foot bending increased significantly from summer to autumn (P < 0·001). Changes in foot bending between initial and final evaluations showed that bending was significantly greater (P < 0·05) in animals on normal energy (NELC, NENC) than on low energy diets (LELC, LENC). Significant differences were not found in the mean degree of damage in foot and cartilage between the groups. Ulna breaking strength was significantly higher (P < 0·05) in normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. Ulna calcium and phosphorus concentrations of the normal Ca: P (LENC, NENC) groups were significantly higher (P < 0·001, P < 0·05) than those of the lower Ca: P (LELC, NELC) groups. The bone (ulna) calcium and phosphorus concentrations tended to be higher in the normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in the low energy (LELC, LENC) groups (calcium P = 0·07; phosphorus P = 0·06). The bone Ca: P ratio was higher (P < 0·001) in the normal (LENC, NENC) than in the low Ca: P diet (LELC, NELC) animals. The carcass weights of normal energy animals (NELC, NENC) were significantly higher (P < 0·001) than those of low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. The fat : dry matter ratio was higher (P < 0·05) in normal (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) carcasses. We conclude that the Ca: P ratio of the diet has no effect on the development of osteochondrosis or bending of the foot. The higher body weight caused by normal as opposed to low metabolizable energy content seems, however, to increase the incidence of foot bending.

Keywords

Alopex lagopusanimal welfarebone mineralizationnutritionosteochondritis
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 80 , Issue 3 , June 2005 , pp. 325 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2005

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