Abstract
Abstract. Lameness in pigs is one of the major reasons for culling and early losses in
pigs. This can be linked to osteoporosis due to pathologic alterations in
bone mineral density (BMD) or bone mineral content (BMC) and may also be
linked to the sex. Dealing with the ban on piglet castration without
anaesthesia in Germany 2021, we have three male “sex” types: entire
boars (EB), immunocastrated boars (IB), and surgically castrated boars (SB).
The hypothesis of the present study is that BMC or BMD varies between different
male sex types. If sex has an effect on bone mineralization
(BMC or BMD) and if this affects leg health, it could result in more lameness
and problems during fattening in the negatively affected sex type. The
present study evaluated bone mineralization (in terms of BMD and BMC) and
body composition traits using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) three
times during growth at 30, 50, and 90 kg live body weight. Nine body regions
were analysed for bone mineral traits and compared for different male sex
types and the fattening season. Significant differences were found
regarding BMD (and BMC) among EB, IB, and SB for whole-body BMD (BMC).
Additionally significant differences were found in the front and lower hind
limbs, where SB showed a significantly higher BMD compared to EB, with IB
in between. Additionally regional differences were detected among the groups.
Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of these differences in
bone mineralization on leg health.
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3 articles.
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