TABLE 3.

Effect of rearing systems on mineral measurements of bones in aged laying hens (95 weeks of age) ^a .

Items	CCS	AVS	p-value
Humerus
Distal BMD (g/cm2)	2.77 ± 0.04	2.82 ± 0.04	0.344
Midshaft BMD (g/cm2)	2.81 ± 0.09	2.96 ± 0.04	0.141
Proximal BMD (g/cm2)	2.73 ± 0.03	2.80 ± 0.06	0.257
Average BMD (g/cm2)	2.77 ± 0.03b	2.86 ± 0.03a	0.042
Distal BMC (g)	2.50 ± 0.04	2.59 ± 0.06	0.268
Midshaft BMC (g)	1.62 ± 0.08	1.71 ± 0.04	0.296
Proximal BMC (g)	2.37 ± 0.03	2.49 ± 0.06	0.137
Average BMC (g)	2.16 ± 0.04	2.27 ± 0.05	0.134
Femur
Distal BMD (g/cm2)	2.72 ± 0.03b	2.82 ± 0.02a	0.046
Midshaft BMD (g/cm2)	2.72 ± 0.09	2.87 ± 0.05	0.148
Proximal BMD (g/cm2)	2.77 ± 0.04	2.89 ± 0.07	0.154
Average BMD (g/cm2)	2.73 ± 0.04	2.84 ± 0.04	0.112
Distal BMC (g)	2.64 ± 0.04	2.71 ± 0.05	0.331
Midshaft BMC (g)	2.10 ± 0.06	2.23 ± 0.06	0.130
Proximal BMC (g)	2.62 ± 0.04	2.73 ± 0.08	0.238
Average BMC (g)	2.45 ± 0.04	2.56 ± 0.05	0.124

^aData represent means with standard error (n = 6). CCS, conventional caging system; AVS, aviary system; BMD, bone mineral density; BMC, bone mineral content.

^a,b Values within a row with no common superscripts mean significant difference (p < 0.05).