The aim of this experiment was to determine the chemical composition of six commonly utilized fodder trees and shrub species in Turkey, namely Glycrrhiza glabra L, Arbutus andrachne, Carpinus betilus, Juniperus communis, Quercus libari L and Pistica lentiscus and its relationship with gas production and estimated parameters when incubated with rumen fluid in vitro. There were significant (p<0.001) differences between leaves in terms of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), total condensed tannin (TCT), bound condensed tannin (BCT) and soluble condensed tannin (SCT). Crude protein contents ranged from 5.74% (Juniperus communis) to 12.59% (Glycrrhiza glabra L). Acid detergent fiber contents ranged from 25.14% (Glycrrhiza glabra L) to 39.23% (Juniperus communis). Total condensed tannin (TCT) contents of leaves ranged from 4.34% (Quercus libari L) to 20.34% (Juniperus communis). Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total condensed tannin contents of leaves were negatively correlated with gas productions and some estimated parameters. Potential gas productions (A) of Glycrrhiza glabra L, Arbutus andrachne, Quercus libari L and Pistica lentiscus were significantly (p<0.001) higher than those of Carpinus betilus and Juniperus communis whereas gas production rate (µ 24 ) of Pistica lentiscus was significantly (p<0.001) higher than the others. Time (h) to produce 50% of total gas pool size (T 50 ) of Juniperus communis was significantly (p<0.001) lower than that of Carpinus betilus whereas time (h) to produce 90% of total gas pool size (T 90 ) of Juniperus communis was significantly lower than the others except for Pistica lentiscus. The metabolizable energy (ME) contents of leaves ranged from 8.86 to 10.39 MJ kg -1 DM. The results obtained in this study suggested that browse species had a significant effect on chemical composition, gas production and estimated parameters of leaves. Leaves from Glycrrhiza glabra L with a considerable amount of CP had a high rank value in terms of ME. Therefore leaves from Glycrrhiza glabra L may have a high potential value for small ruminant animals in terms of rumen and whole digestibility. Leaves from other species studied require protein supplementation when they are the only feed consumed by ruminant animals.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, in vitro DM degradability, ME and OMD of alfalfamaize silage mixtures in comparison to pure maize and alfalfa silages, and to test the existence of associative effects of ensiling alfalfa forage with whole-crop maize using the in vitro gas production technique. Ensiling alfalfa with whole-crop maize had a significant (p<0.001) effect on chemical composition, pH, in vitro DM degradability, OMD and estimated ME values of mixtures. DM content of the resultant silages significantly increased with increasing proportion of whole-crop maize in the mixtures, whereas the pH value, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and ash contents of mixtures decreased due to the dilution effect of whole-crop maize which was low in CP, ADF and ash. The pH values of all alfalfa-maize silage mixtures were at the desired level for quality silage. Gas production of alfalfa-maize silage mixtures at all incubation times except 12 h increased with increasing proportion of whole-crop maize. When alfalfa was mixed with whole-crop maize in the ratio 40:60, ME and OMD values were significantly (p<0.001) higher than other silages. Maximum gas production (A gas ) ranged from 65.7 to 78.1 with alfalfa silage showing the lowest maximum gas production. The results obtained in this study clearly showed that maximum gas production increased with increased percentage of whole-crop maize in the silage mixtures (r = 0.940, p<0.001). It was concluded that ensiling alfalfa with whole-crop maize improved the pH, OMD and ME values. However, trials with animals are required to see how these differences in silage mixtures affect animal performance.

An 80-day feeding trial was conducted as two experiments to evaluate the effects of replacement of fish meal (FM) and soyabean meal (SBM) protein with hazelnut meal (HM) protein in the diets of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. Growth parameters and body composition were measured in fingerlings cultured under laboratory conditions in a recirculation system aquarium at 26 ± 0.3 °C. In Experiment I four isonitrogenous, isoenergetic diets were formulated by replacing 0, 25, 35 and 45% of protein from FM by HM. Fingerlings receiving the diets in which 0, 25 and 35% of the FM protein were replaced, had similar body weights, specific growth ratios (SGR), protein efficiency ratios (PER) and feed conversion ratios (FCR). In Experiment II four isonitrogenous, isoenergetic diets were formulated by replacing 0, 20, 40 and 60% of protein in SBM with HM. Fingerlings receiving the diets where 0, 20 and 40% of the SBM protein were replaced, had similar body weights, SGR, PER and FCR. However, fingerlings consuming the highest dietary inclusion level of HM (60% replacement) had significantly lower responses for all the above parameters than fingerlings receiving the other diets. The fat content of fingerlings fed diet FM 3 where 45 % of FM protein was replaced by HM protein, was significantly lower than those on the other diets. It was concluded that HM could replace up to 35% of the protein in FM and 40% of protein supplied by SBM in fingerling carp diets without adverse effects on growth, FCR, PER, FI, BWG and body composition.

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