The study was conducted to measure the development of several testicular characteristics and to investigate the relationship between testicular parameters with body growth, semen characteristics and serum testosterone levels in growing ram lambs. Seventeen single born Kivircik ram lambs from three to four year old ewes were used. When the rams were two months old measurements of the length, diameter and circumference of their testes and body weights started, and blood samples were collected at 20-day intervals for the next 12 months. From seven to 14 months of age semen was collected at monthly intervals. There was a gradual and linear increase in testicular dimensions from two to 11 months of age. A rapid increase in all testicular dimensions was observed between 140 to 160 days of age. All measurements of testes, live weight, age and serum testosterone concentrations were positively and significantly correlated with each other. While a significant positive correlation was found at seven and eight months of age between all testicular measurements and semen volume and motility, no such correlations were observed between nine and 14 months of age. From seven to 14 months of age no correlation was measured between serum testosterone concentrations and spermatological characteristics. These results demonstrated that testicular measurements, especially scrotal circumference, can be used as criteria for early selection of ram lambs to be used in breeding at relatively young ages.

This study was conducted to determine the growth traits, survival rates, and some reproductive traits of Hair kids reared onfarm in Antalya province of Turkey. The data concerning the birth weights of totally 22,817 kids and the 90th day live weights of totally 21643 kids were taken for a 5-year period within the scope of this study. In 37 flocks, the mean birth weights of the kids born in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 were determined as 3.38, 3.41, 3.26, 3.32, and 3.26 kg, and also the mean live weights of 90th day (weaning) were found as 16.96 kg, 18.33 kg, 17.43 kg, 17.47 kg, and 17.53 by the years, respectively. The differences between the birth year, sex, type of birth, and the dam's age groups were statistically significant in terms of birth weight and 90th day live weight (P < 0.05). The survival rates of the kids on the 90th day were 96.44%, 92.70%, 94.06%, 94.31%, and 97.02% by the years (P < 0.05). In the study, the twin birth rate was 5.1% in general. It was revealed based on five-year data that Hair goats had adaptation to the region and breeding system with their survival rate exceeding 90%.

The melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) and inhibin alpha subunit (INHA) genes play a significant role in the reproductive characteristics of animals. Blood samples were collected from 371 goats (Honamli and Hair) reared in Antalya and Burdur. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were digested by RsaI for the MTNR1A gene and HaeII for the INHA gene. Two alleles (A and G) and three genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) were observed for the INHA gene, while two alleles (R and r) and two genotypes (RR and Rr) were observed for the MTNR1A gene. The highest allelic frequency value for G (91.8%) was found in Honamli goat breeds for the INHA gene while the highest value for R (98.1%) was found in Hair goat breeds for the MTNR1A gene. The GG genotype for the INHA gene and the RR genotype for the MTNR1A gene were identified as the most common genotypes of the Honamli and Hair goat breeds. The rr genotype for the MTNR1A gene could not be determined in the breeds. Both Honamli and Hair goat breeds were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the genes that were studied. In conclusion, this study confirms the existence of genetic polymorphism in the MTNR1A and INHA genes as detected by PCR-RFLP analysis in Honamli and Hair goat breeds.

The aim of this study was to determine the growth, testicular dimensions, body measurements of kids until the weaning age and mature goats in the recently defined Honamlı goat breed in Turkey. This study has been carried out on 7 different Honamlı herds that consist of 207 kids, 174 goats and 22 goat bucks that have been breed in the Burdur, Antalya and Konya provinces under extensive conditions. The average of some important measurements such as withers height, rump height, body length, chest girth, tail length, nose length, distance between two horns, neck length, left front wrist girth and left back wrist girth on the 90th day at Honamlı herd kids were determined to be 62.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of location in an incubator on the hatching characteristics of eggs obtained from Bronze turkeys of different ages, viz. at the ages of 8, 10 and 12 months. In the study 330 eggs were placed in each of six locations within an incubator, totalling 1 980 eggs from each age group, and 5 940 eggs overall. The highest fertility rate and hatchability of all eggs set, and of fertile eggs were recorded in the eggs from 10-month old breeders. The lowest rates of shell adhesion deaths, null poults and poults with abnormalities were also observed in this group. In all age groups investigated, the hatchability of all eggs set and of fertile eggs was the highest in eggs placed in the front of the machine. Furthermore, early and middle stage deaths during incubation were lower in the front of the incubator compared to the back. The differences between eggs placed in the upper, middle and lower parts of the machine with respect to the investigated characteristics were not statistically significant. Although these results were obtained from a specific incubator, the locations inside and all applications (temperature, humidity, shaking, etc.) were within accepted standards. Therefore, results are applicable, in general.