Table 5.

Femur characteristics of piglets fed dietary treatments^*

(Mean values and pooled standard errors)

	C	D	D-A	D-CA	sem	P
Weight (g DM)	37⋅6	40⋅2	39⋅8	41⋅1	0⋅71	0⋅094
Ash (g)	15⋅7	16⋅8	16⋅3	16⋅9	0⋅21	0⋅081
Ash (% DM)	41⋅6	42⋅1	40⋅9	40⋅5	0⋅81	0⋅47
Morphometry
Length (cm)	12⋅14	12⋅36	12⋅19	12⋅34	0⋅07	0⋅66
Diaphysis width (cm)	1⋅48b	1⋅59a,b	1⋅56a,b	1⋅67a	0⋅02	0⋅017
Medullar cavity width (cm)	1⋅07b	1⋅13a,b	1⋅17a	1⋅20a	0⋅02	0⋅014
Cortical thickness (cm)	0⋅42	0⋅46	0⋅39	0⋅47	0⋅02	0⋅22
Cortical area (cm2)	3⋅33b	4⋅09a,b	3⋅47b	4⋅44a	0⋅15	0⋅020
Bone mineral density (g/cm3)
Entire bone	1⋅266	1⋅270	1⋅268	1⋅270	0⋅001	0⋅64
Trabecular	1⋅212	1⋅214	1⋅212	1⋅213	0⋅001	0⋅81
Cortical	1⋅677	1⋅670	1⋅680	1⋅666	0⋅003	0⋅29
Mineral content (g/femur)
P	2⋅885b	3⋅224a	3⋅135a,b	3⋅213a	0⋅050	0⋅045
Ca	5⋅314	5⋅901	5⋅732	5⋅842	0⋅090	0⋅067
Na	0⋅226	0⋅243	0⋅243	0⋅239	0⋅004	0⋅18
K	0⋅115	0⋅116	0⋅117	0⋅111	0⋅003	0⋅89
S	0⋅083	0⋅087	0⋅097	0⋅087	0⋅004	0⋅30
Cl	0⋅119	0⋅129	0⋅126	0⋅126	0⋅002	0⋅27
Ca:P ratio	1⋅845	1⋅832	1⋅828	1⋅818	0⋅009	0⋅16

C, control low-fibre diet; D, diet enriched in local feedstuffs with a normal dietary electrolyte balance; D-A, diet enriched in local feedstuffs with a low dietary electrolyte balance; D-CA, D-A diet supplemented with Ca.

^a,b Mean values within a row with unlike superscript letters were significantly different (P<0⋅05).

^*n 6.