Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A029
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A029
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, A029 (2025)
The effect of Ascophyllum nodosum on the mineralization and biomechanical properties of the femur in weaned piglets
Marianna Wacko1*, Katarzyna Woś1, Karol Pachciński1, Fabian Domański1, Anna Czech1
1 Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: wacko.marianna@gmail.com
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Ascophyllum nodosum supplementation in the diet of piglets on the mineral composition, geometric properties, and mechanical characteristics of the femur. The experiment was conducted on 150 piglets (a crossbreed of Landrace × Yorkshire Hybrid × Duroc and Pietrain Hybrid), divided into three groups after weaning (day 28 of life): a control group (C, standard feed) and two experimental groups—A-0.6 (standard feed with 0.6% algae) and A-1 (standard feed with 1% algae). The experiment lasted until day 64 of life, after which six piglets from each group were humanely euthanized to collect femur bones for analysis. The mineral composition of the bones was assessed using atomic absorption spectrometry, while geometric and biomechanical properties were evaluated through mean relative wall thickness (MRWT), cortical index (CI), crosssectional area (CSA), and cross-sectional moment of inertia (Ix). Mechanical properties analyzed included yield strength, elastic work, fracture load, work to fracture and stiffness. Based on these measurements, Young’s modulus, elastic and fracture strain, elastic and fracture stress were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 5 software. The results showed that algae supplementation significantly increased phosphorus (P) content in femurs from groups A-0.6 and A-1 compared to the control group (p = 0.030, p = 0.049). In contrast, copper (Cu) content was lower in A-1 than in C and A-0.6, demonstrating both linear (p = 0.003) and quadratic (p = 0.007) relationships. Additionally, Ascophyllum nodosum supplementation influenced bone geometry—MRWT and CI values were higher in A-0.6 than in C, with a linear correlation for MRWT (p = 0.040) and a quadratic correlation (p = 0.046). Regarding biomechanical properties, addition of 0.6% algae increased Elastic Stress (p < 0.001) and Yield Stress (p = 0.047) compared to the control group. Furthermore, Fracture Load (p = 0.004), Work to Fracture (p < 0.001), and Yield Stress (p = 0.024) were significantly higher in A-0.6 than A-1. Fracture Strain increased in algae-supplemented groups (p = 0.006), and both Work to Fracture and Fracture Strain showed significant linear (p = 0.038) and quadratic (p = 0.004) correlations. The results suggest that supplementing the diet of piglets with 0.6% Ascophyllum nodosum may support proper skeletal development by improving the bone mineralization and mechanical strength of the femur.
Keywords: piglets, algae supplementation, femur mineralization
How to cite
M. Wacko, K. Woś, K. Pachciński, F. Domański, A. Czech, 2025. The effect of Ascophyllum nodosum on the mineralization and biomechanical properties of the femur in weaned piglets. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A029