Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine changes in
quality of skeletal system in healthy or suffering from leg
deformities farm turkeys by measuring volumetric bone
density of trabecular and cortical bone, geometrical and
mechanical properties of femur and tibia. All animals were
kept under standard rearing conditions of commercial turkey
farms, with constant access to water and appropriate feed,
supplied in accordance with the stage of production cycle.
Bone samples were collected from two different groups of
turkeys after finishing the production cycle. To the first group
belonged control turkeys with physiologically developed and
properly functioning skeletal system. The second group
consisted of turkeys which suffered from leg deformities and
impaired locomotory function. Volumetric bone density of
femur and tibia were estimated for trabecular and cortical bone
separately, using Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT)
method. Both mechanical properties of femur and tibia,
determined in INSTRON 4302 apparatus and geometrical
properties of the investigated bones were estimated according
to Ferretti`s method. The obtained results indicate that turkeys
with leg deformities and impaired locomotory function were
characterised by decreased mechanical properties and
trabecular bone density of femur and tibia, when compared to