Osteoporosis, Bone Mineralization, and Status of Selected Trace Elements in Two Populations of Moose Calves in Norway

Abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the etiology of a high frequency of bone fractures and osteoporosis in the moose (Alces alces) population in southern Norway. Liver samples, both metacarpi, and carcass data were collected from 21 and 22 moose calves shot in 1994 in Birkenes (southern Norway), and Naerøy (central Norway), respectively. The liver samples were analyzed for copper, manganese, zinc, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and selenium. Bone samples were subject to histologic, radiologic, and chemical examinations. Three of the calves from Birkenes and one calf from Naerøy showed histologic and radiologic evidence of generalized osteoporosis consistent with osteoporosis due to starvation. The calves with osteoporosis had the lowest carcass weights and radio-opacities recorded. There was a positive correlation between carcass weight and bone radio-opacity. Density, ash content, phosphorus, and calcium contents and phosphorous/calcium ratio in bone samples, as well as hepatic trace element status, were within the normal range for all calves in both populations. Two of the osteoporotic calves, were reported to have been orphaned. Our results indicate that the high frequency of bone fractures reported in moose in southern Norway is not associated with regional differences in trace element status or bone mineral balance. We propose that the occurrence of osteoporosis in moose calves in Birkenes may have resulted from inadequate nutrition following general overcrowding and high pressure on feed resources in the southernmost part of Norway.

Age-Independent Osteopathology in Skeletons of a South American Cervid, the Patagonian Huemul (Hippocamelus Bisulcus)

“…Furthermore, the prevalence increased sharply after 7 yr of age, and it was rare in earlier age classes, in contrast to our study, which suggests different etiologic origins. Osteoporosis in moose and reindeer were related to undernutrition from overcrowding (Leader-Williams, 1982;Peterson, 1988;Ytrehus et al, 1999), which would be unlikely as a major population of huemul in the study area occurred at a low density of 1.5 deer/km 2 (Smith- Flueck and Flueck, 2001a) and femoral marrow fat ranged between 88% and 98% (Smith- Flueck and Flueck, 2001b). Miller and Tessier (1971) examined 1,226 skulls of R. tarandus and found 43 anomalies mainly as supernumerary teeth and lack of or variation in root developments, but no pathologic changes as described here for huemul.…”

The effects of power lines on ungulates and implications for power line routing and rights-of-way management

“…White-tailed deer increased stationary browsing time in a power line ROW from 7 to ~40% in cold winter as compared to a mild winter . Possibly forest ungulates cannot afford to avoid power line ROW when overall food availability is insufficient in relation to their densities (Ytrehus et al, 1999;Lamoureux et al, 2001). Hagen et al (2007) speculated that reindeer will also react less to disturbances when the population size increases.…”

Hepatic Minerals of White-Tailed and Mule Deer in the Southern Black Hills, South Dakota

“…Mineral levels were not detectable if they were ,25.00 for Na, ,1.0 for B, ,0.50 for Al and Cu, ,0.25 for Sb, As, Tl, and Pb, ,0.20 for Hg, ,0.10 for Ni, ,0.05 for Cd, Cr, and Co, and ,0.03 for Ba. If minerals levels were below detectable levels, they were assigned a value of half the detectable limit for statistical analysis and calculation of means (Vikoren et al, 2005;Ytrehus et al, 1999). If .50% of values for a mineral were below the detectable level, the mineral was removed from analysis (Hothem et al, 1998).…”

“…Liver concentrations of some trace elements have been measured in elk (Cervus elaphus) (Frøslie et al, 1984;Fielder, 1986;Gogan et al, 1989;Vikoren et al, 2005), caribou (Rangifer tarandus) (Frøslie et al, 1984;Barboza and Blake, 2001), moose (Alces alces) (Frøslie et al, 1984;Ytrehus et al, 1999), mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) (Fielder, 1986), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) (Stetler, 1980;Fielder, 1986), muskox (Ovibos moschatus) (Blakley et al, 2000;Rombach et al, 2003), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (King, 1984;Schultz et al, 1994;McDowell et al, 1995). Trace elements such as copper (Cu) (Stetler, 1980;Frøslie et al, 1984;King, 1984;Gogan et al, 1989;Ytrehus et al, 1999;Blakley et al, 2000;Barboza and Blake, 2001;Rombach et al, 2003;Vikoren et al, 2005), selenium (Se) (Fielder, 1986;McDowell et al, 1995;Ytrehus et al, 1999;Blakley et al, 2000;Vikoren et al, 2005), and molybdenum (Mo) (Stetler, 1980;King, 1984;Gogan et al, 1989;Ytrehus et al, 1999;Blakley et al, 2000) have been the focus of research due to their association with reproduction or disease. Despite these studies, there is a paucity of information on the mineral requirements of free-ranging deer (Robbi...…”