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The aim of this research was to evaluate selection studies towards increasing eggshell colour intensity and homogeneity, without reducing egg production of brown-egg-laying hens at the Poultry Research Institute of Ankara, Turkey. This study was based on data obtained from 1342 pedigree Barred Rock-1 (BAR-1), 1158 pedigree Rhode Island Red-1 (RIR-1) and 611 hybrid (RIR-1 x BAR-1 or ATAK-S) brown laying hens, where eggshell colour and egg production performances were determined. Hens were selected for dark, uniform shells and egg production performance, as paternal and maternal lines from RIR-1 and BAR-1 base populations. Colour coordinates; L* (brightness), a* (red/green scale), b* (yellow/blue scale) and eggshell colour index (SCI) were determined. The values of L*, b* and a* were significantly changed during the study. The estimated heritabilities for BAR-1 hens of egg weight (EW), L*, a*, b* and SCI were as follows: 0.62, 0.64, 0.62, 0.55 and 0.32; The RIR-1 hen values were as follows: 0.51, 0.74, 0.64, 0.22 and 0.39, respectively. It was concluded that the performance of parents and hybrids was better than that of the base populations, with respect to the characteristics studied.ARTICLE HISTORY

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of beak trimming age on performance criteria, H-L ratio, antibody production, the percentage of spleen and liver and external appearance. The chicks (Barred Rock) were randomly divided into 4 beak-trimming groups (non-trimmed (control), a trim at 1 d (1D), at 10 d (10D) and at 10 wk (10W)), each of 132 chicks. There were 6 replicate cages at beak trimming groups at rearing period. At 18 wk of age a total of 144 pullets were transferred to the layer house, and the pullets were housed at 323 and 646 cm(2)/hen with 8 and 4 birds per cage in three-deck layer cages. There were a total of 24 replications with 12 replications equally divided between the high and low density cages, and the beak trimmed treatments were randomly and equally divided within each density. As a result of this experiment differences among groups in body weight in rearing phase were disappear in the laying phase. Low feather condition was found in untrimmed hens. H-L ratio in both pullet and laying phase was higher in hens of untrimmed groups. Cage area affected all examined parameters except that body weight, mortality rate, cracked, broken and unshell egg rates, shell breaking, shape index, shell thickness, meat-blood spot rates, spleen and liver percentages, throat injures and antibody production to SRBC.

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This study was conducted by Poultry Research Institute to determine the poultry meat consumption and consumer trends in Turkey. With this aim questionnaire forms composed of 26 questions were prepared. This questionnaire study was conducted with 2.241 families, which represent the consumer profile of Turkey, supplied by Turkish Statistical Institute. Data obtained from the questionnaire were evaluated by using SPSS programme (SPSS 17). 98.26% of the participants were determined to consume poultry meat. Yearly poultry meat consumption was found as 16.67 kg although it differed between regions. There was a positive correlation (r=0.222) between the people income level and the poultry meat consumption. 44.55% of the families prefered whole poultry meat carcass. Expiration date was taken into consideration by the 67.35% of the participants. Boiling was preferred by consumers as a cooking method with a rate of 44.73%. Halal slaughter has been considered important by 68.08% of people and these persons mentioned that it should be signified on the package. Avian influenza disease affected consumption negatively with a rate of 41.01%. 67.11% of the participants believing that the poultry meat production is not inspected adequately. As a result of the research, it was understood that poultry meat and products were widely consumed in different ways in Turkey.