This study evaluated effects of photoperiod treatments on slaughter and carcass traits, meat quality, indicators of oxidative stress, and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) levels of lung and heart tissues in broilers. Five hundred Ross 308 broiler chicks were used. The treatments consisted of 23 hours of continuous light and one hour of darkness (23L1D), four hours of light followed by two hours of darkness (4L2D), eight hours of light and four hours of darkness (8L4D), and 16 hours of light and eight hours of darkness (16L8D). After 42 days, two birds from each replicate were slaughtered. Birds that had been subjected to 16L8D had lower slaughter, carcass, and breast weights than the other treatments. Significant correlations were observed for slaughter, carcass and breast weights and white stripe. At 10 min post mortem, the pH of the breast was the highest in 23L1D. Breasts from birds subjected to 23L1D and 16L8D had most fat and least protein, while white striping was not different among treatments. The 4L2D treatment resulted in the highest lung glutathione (GSH) concentration. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH concentrations in the heart tissues of broilers from 8L4D and 4L2D were greater than those from 23L1D and 16:8. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase concentrations were greatest for birds subjected to 16L8D. Heat shock protein 70 was lowest in lung and heart from birds subjected to 8L4D. Thus, shorter and more frequent periods of darkness can be recommended for welfare with little compromise in performance. Keywords: carcass quality, heat shock protein 70, oxidative stress, white stripe

This research was carried out to determine milk yield and milk quality parameters of Awassi sheep raised under semi-intensive conditions in Harran University Experimental Animal Research and Application Center. In the study, 2 and 3 years old, 46 heads of Awassi sheep were used as animal material. The care and feeding of the ewes were made in a way that the Animal Research and Application Center routinely applied. Average daily milk yield in Awassi sheep was determined as 1002.82±52.57 g. Lactation milk yield and lactation period were calculated as 168.10±8.44 kg and 166.10±2.11 days, respectively. In the study, the overall mean fat, protein, lactose and dry matter ratios were determined. % 6.27±0.10; 5.12±0.05; 4.81±0.05 and 17.44 ± 0.13 respectively. Somatic cell count and pH values in Awassi sheep milk were determined as 207.56±21.29 cell/ml and 6.29±0.03 respectively. L*, a* and b* values in sheep milk were determined as 72.69±0.16; -6.11±0.04 and 6.92±0.08. respectively. It was determined that the amount of butyric acid (C4:0), which is one of the short-chain fatty acids, was higher than the values reported for sheep milk in all groups examined in the study. As a result, it has been determined that there is a wide variation in milk yield in Awassi sheep. A rapid genetic improvement may be achieved by utilizing this variation.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of different industrial by-products (pistachio, pomegranate, and olive) as alternative feed sources for sheep. Fifty-two Awassi sheep aged 3 and 4 years were divided into four groups (n=13 per group) concerning age, birth type, milk yield, and lactation period: basal diet without byproducts (CON) and basal diet added with either pistachio shell (PIS), pomegranate hull (POM), or olive pulp (OP). By-products were mixed with the total ration at a rate of 5% and given in the morning and evening feedings. The feeding experiment was continued for 60 days. Milk yield, milk quality, feed consumption, and biochemical parameters such as urea, creatine, triglyceride, total bilirubin, and albumin were determined at 30-day intervals from the beginning of the study. Tukey multiple comparison test was used to compare the research groups. There was no treatment effect on feed consumption. The highest milk yield was measured in sheep fed the POM diet in all periods (the first, second, and third-period means were 1143±111, 967±127, and 785±112 gr, respectively). Milk yield for other groups was similar. At the end of the study, the fat ratio in the CON, PIS, POM, and OP groups were determined to be 6.11±0.30%, 6.25±0.36%, 5.61±0.42%, and 5.97±0.48%, respectively. Protein values were determined as 6.34±0.16%, 6.26%±0.27%, 6.06%±0.23%, and 6.39±0.19% in the same order. There was no statistically significant difference between CON, PIS, POM, and OP groups regarding biochemical parameters. In conclusion, sheep ration can contain PIS, POM, and OP up to 5% as alternative feed sources.

Background: Digit lengths are dimorphic in some other creatures as in humans. In particular, gender analysis can be done using the ratio between the second finger (D2) and the fourth finger (D4). The aim of this study is to examine whether the ratio of foot fingers is related to gender in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).Methods: In this study, 60 adults (30 female and 30 male) Japanese quail foot digit length ratios were examined in relation to gender. The ratios of the lengths of the second finger (D2), the third finger (D3) and the fourth finger (D4) to each other were taken on the computer. Result: In addition, geometrical analysis of base posture positions between female and male individuals were made and shape differences were revealed. It was observed that the second finger (D2) of male birds was more introverted than in females. It was seen that Principal component analysis (PCA1) explained 53.07% of the total variation between female and male groups. PCA2 explained 17.6% of the total variation and PCA3 announced 11.83%. In statistical morphometric analysis, the difference in shape between the male and female was statistically insignificant. D2:D3, D2:D4 and D3:D4 ratios were higher in males. It was observed that the lateral angle in both genders was higher than medial angle. This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). While the average of the lateral angle was 50.89% in all individuals, the average of the medial angle was 42.81%. The highest length in all individuals belonged to the third finger. It was observed that the ratio of D2:D4 among females used in the study was 0.867 in females and 0.877 in males.

Upload this completed form to website with submission ARTICLE INFORMATION Fill in information in each box below Article TypeResearch article Article TitlePistachio, pomegranate and olive by-products added to sheep rations change the biofunctional properties of milk through the milk amino acid profile.