Effects of dietary chromium, copper and zinc on femur fracture force and femur calcium concentration in male Japanese quail

The effects of dietary chromium, copper and zinc on femur fracture force and femur calcium concentration were evaluated in male Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, using a three-factor response surface design. Quail were randomly assigned to one of fifteen experimental diets containing variable concentrations of dietary chromium (71 to 1124 ng/g diet), copper (1.6 to 8.3 μg/g diet), and zinc (11 to 51 μg/g diet). After six weeks femurs were removed, weighed and frozen for future analysis of femur fracture force and femur calcium concentration. Femur fracture force was significantly influenced by the interaction between dietary zinc and copper. In addition, bone calcium concentration was significantly affected by the quadratic effects of dietary zinc and copper.