Influence of Short‐term Confinement and Exercise on Tibia Development in Growing Pigs

Summary The influence of short‐term confinement and moderate exercise on tibia development was investigated in growing pigs (36–41 kg, 10 weeks at the beginning of the study). Animals were kept for 2 weeks either in individual crates of 0.8 m 2 (‘confinement’, n = 4) or kept in groups of four animals in large crates of 5.6 m 2 without (‘control’) or with additional exercise (30 min walking at 5 days/week; ‘exercise’). Bone density and morphological parameters were evaluated by computer tomography (CT). Periosteal apposition and longitudinal growth were determined after polychrome sequential labelling in weekly intervals. Cortical areas of the cross sections at the mid‐shaft and at 75% of the length of the bone measured distal to the carpus by CT were significantly correlated to each other ( r = 0.70) and revealed a significant reduction in confined animals. This difference was explained by lower periosteal apposition rates in these animals compared with exercised and group‐housed pigs. Similarly longitudinal growth and the formation and calcification of spongiosa of the tibiae were inhibited by confinement. Thus, 2 weeks of confinement led to significant differences in bone growth and metabolism in young growing piglets when compared with animals with moderate activity.