The Effect of Sex and Age on Bone Morphology and Strength in the Metacarpus and Humerus in Beef-Cross-Dairy Cattle

Gibson, Michaela J.; Back, P. J.; Dittmer, Keren E.; Schreurs, Nicola M.; Rogers, Chris W.

doi:10.3390/ani11030694

Cited by 8 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This concept has been reflected in the current study where increases in metacarpus length were not limited after one year of age. A similar result was previously reported by Gibson et al [30], where steers had a greater total bone (metacarpus and humerus) length than bulls at a given body weight at 11 months of age. At this age, bulls were beginning to reach puberty, so differences in bone density because of bone maturity in bulls were not yet observed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Increases in body weight up to 24 months of age were associated with a greater total bone area and a decrease in total bone density. This increase in cross sectional area is a similar growth response to that observed in the e mid-diaphysis of the metacarpus [3,30]. However, as the metacarpus reaches maturity, additional bone strength will be the result of increases in bone content.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

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Measures of Bone Morphology in the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Metacarpus in Beef Cross Dairy Cattle at 8–12 and 24 Months of Age

et al. 2022

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Bone morphology in the mid-diaphysis of the metacarpus in cattle and the effect of puberty and age has been well described. However, there is limited information on how age and not attaining puberty affects bone morphology in the epiphysis of the metacarpus. The metacarpus is comprised of the third and fourth metacarpal bones fused together to create a medial and lateral epiphysis. When a cow is in stance phase there is greater pressure on the medial claw; however, the effect of this difference in loading on bone has not been described. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to describe bone morphology in the medial and lateral epiphysis of the metacarpus at the age of puberty in steers. The metacarpus was collected from beef cross dairy steers at approximately one and two years of age. The distal epiphysis of the metacarpus was scanned using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Measures were corrected for body weight and demonstrated a lack of bone growth cessation at one year of age. The lack of difference in bone morphology in the medial and lateral condyles of the distal metacarpus reflects the even loading distribution observed in the forelimb of cattle.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Measures of Bone Morphology in the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Metacarpus in Beef Cross Dairy Cattle at 8–12 and 24 Months of Age

et al. 2022

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“…21,23,24,53 In cows, liveweight is important because it determines bone size and is a major determinant of the strain stress index (a proxy for bone strength) in the humerus of dairy cows. 23,24 Furthermore, although calves born from dams with high milk production tend to be lighter, if heifers reach pre-mating target liveweights (before 12-14 months of age), there are no significant differences in skeletal (frame) size in later months, further emphasizing the importance of nutrition in early life. 26,49 Analysis of growth patterns in New Zealand dairy cows shows there are normally 2 periods of reduced growth rate, the first is ~9 months of age (coinciding with the period of lowest pasture quantity and quality in winter), and the second between 22 and 24 months of age, corresponding to the second winter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Osteoporosis is the cause of spontaneous humeral fracture in dairy cows from New Zealand

et al. 2022

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Outbreaks of humeral fractures in dairy cows have been reported in New Zealand for several years. Gross, histologic, and histomorphometric findings in the humerus from primiparous cows with spontaneous humeral fracture were compared to age-matched control cows. Affected cows had a complete nonarticular spiral fracture of the humerus. Histologically affected humeri had a thicker growth plate with abnormal architecture, thinner cortex with increased abnormal resorption, increased resorption in the distal humerus, decreased trabecular density, abnormal trabecular architecture, presence of growth arrest lines and woven bone formation. Histomorphometry showed reduction in bone volume, trabecular perimeter, and trabecular width. Cows grazed on fodder beet had thicker growth plates with an abnormal appearance compared with cows grazed on pasture, and cows with low/marginal liver copper concentration had more resorption cavities in the distal humerus and thinner cortical bone compared with cows with adequate liver copper concentration. Decreased trabecular density (OR = 249.5), abnormal cortical resorption (OR = 54.2), presence of woven bone formation in the proximal metaphysis (OR = 37.2), and the number of resorption cavities in the distal humerus were significantly associated with a high probability of fracture. Ribs had enlargement of the costochondral junction with fractures in different stages of healing. Histology of the ribs revealed abnormal growth plate appearance, presence of fracture lines, callus tissue, fibrosis, and microfractures. Cows with humeral fracture have osteoporosis due to decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption, likely associated with inadequate feed quality and perhaps copper deficiency leading to a reduction in bone strength and fracture.

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“…Bone size and strength have been shown to be strongly correlated with live weight [6,7]. Due to the opportunistic nature of bone acquisition in both the control and affected groups, live weights could not be consistently or reliably obtained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…pQCT scanning was carried out using the same protocol previously reported by Gibson, et al [6] and Gibson, et al [7]. Briefly, pQCT scanning was carried out using an XCT 2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography machine (Stratec Medical, Pforzheim, Germany).…”

Section: Scanningmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mid-Diaphysis Is a Poor Predictor of Humeral Fracture Risk Indicating That Predisposing Factors Are Recent

et al. 2021

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The incidence of spontaneous humeral fractures in first-lactation dairy heifers in New Zealand has emphasised the need to understand the thoracic limb bone growth of dairy heifers. Previous research has indicated that a predisposing factor to spontaneous humeral fracture is nutrition. In addition, it has been hypothesised that liver copper concentration affects bone strength and may be a potential factor associated with humeral fracture risk. The aim of this study was to compare bone morphology in the mid-diaphysis of the metacarpus and humerus of heifers affected and unaffected by spontaneous humeral fractures, and determine the effect of copper status at death on bone morphology. The metacarpus and humerus were collected from heifers affected and unaffected by humeral fractures, and scanned using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). The mid-diaphysis of the humerus of the affected group had reduced cortical bone mineral density and a trend for reduced cortical content and total bone content, which contributed to a reduced stress–strain index. The trend for reduced bone length in affected humeri provides additional support for the hypothesis of inhibited humeral growth. Heifers with low copper liver concentrations had reduced humerus lengths and reduced cortical bone mineral densities. These data support the hypothesis that the developmental window for humeral fracture is recent, and possibly associated with periods of inadequate nutrition.

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The Effect of Sex and Age on Bone Morphology and Strength in the Metacarpus and Humerus in Beef-Cross-Dairy Cattle

Cited by 8 publications

References 24 publications

Measures of Bone Morphology in the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Metacarpus in Beef Cross Dairy Cattle at 8–12 and 24 Months of Age

Measures of Bone Morphology in the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Metacarpus in Beef Cross Dairy Cattle at 8–12 and 24 Months of Age

Osteoporosis is the cause of spontaneous humeral fracture in dairy cows from New Zealand

The Mid-Diaphysis Is a Poor Predictor of Humeral Fracture Risk Indicating That Predisposing Factors Are Recent

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