Biomechanical properties of femur and tibiotarsus in quails

1. This study evaluated the biomechanical properties of quail bones using standard guidelines. The femur and tibiotarsus bones were used from 56 healthy quails.2. Computed tomography was used for cross-sectional data. The diameters were measured and cortical indices were calculated. Three-point bending and shear tests were performed. The maximum bending, shear forces and load-displacement curves were recorded. Bone stiffness, bending strength, shear strength and elastic modulus were calculated. Statistical comparisons were performed between sexes.3. Females had higher bone weights than males. Cortical indices were similar between sexes in the femur (51-58%) but higher in the tibiotarsus of females (53-66%).4. In shear tests, the femur fractured between 62 and 88 N and the tibiotarsus between 93 and 139 N, with females demonstrating consistently higher maximum shear force. Shear strength ranged from 5 to 7 MPa in the femur and 8-12 MPa in the tibiotarsus, the latter being significantly greater in females.5. In three-point bending tests, all parameters were higher in females: the femur fractured between 37 and 51 N and the tibiotarsus between 47 and 62 N, with bending strength ranging from 32 to 65 MPa and 41 to 65 MPa and elastic modulus between 1665 and 3135 MPa and 3244 and 5818 MPa, respectively.