title: Effect of dietary nutrients on osteochondrosis lesions and cartilage properties in pigs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate dietary ingredients involved in cartilage and bone metabolism and their influence on osteochondrosis lesions in swine.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 crossbred gilts (mean initial weight, 39 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pigs (10 pigs/treatment) were fed a corn-soybean meal basal (control) diet or the basal diet supplemented with additional minerals (copper and manganese or silicon), amino acids (proline and glycine; a combination of leucine, isoleucine, and valine; or methionine and threonine), or fatty acids (provided by fish oil) for 84 days. Pigs were then slaughtered and the distal portion of the left femur was collected for determination of osteochondrosis lesions at the femoral condyle. After evaluation of external joint surfaces, the distal portion of the femur was sectioned to evaluate lesions in the growth plate and articular cartilage. Additionally, a cartilage specimen was obtained from the patella for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pigs fed diets containing high amounts of methionine and threonine or the diet containing all additional ingredients had significantly lower total severity scores, compared with scores for pigs fed the control diet or a diet supplemented with fish oil. Pigs fed diets containing additional proline and glycine, copper and manganese, methionine and threonine, or all additional ingredients had significantly lower overall scores, compared with scores for pigs fed the control diet or a diet supplemented with fish oil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary manipulation decreased the severity of osteochondrosis lesions, compared with results for pigs fed a control diet. However, additional research on optimal concentrations and combinations of dietary components is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, College of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Nolan Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Frantz
authors.forename: Gordan A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tokach
authors.forename: Jim L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nelssen
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Goodband
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Derouchey
authors.forename: Steve S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dritz
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002356:Cartilage / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000378:metabolism; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012825:Silicon / Q000378:metabolism; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D012825:Silicon