This study aimed to examine the teat characteristics in relation to the animal temperament during milking in the Anatolian buffaloes using ultrasonographic, histomorphological and immunohistochemical methods. The teat canal length (TCL), teat wall thickness (TWT), teat cisternal diameter (TCD), teat diameter (TD), teat length (TL), and teat circumference (TC) values in docile (n = 5) and nervous (n = 7) buffaloes were measured at the 0th, 3rd and 6th minute of stimulation. In additional experiments, comparative histomorphology and immunohistochemical examinations of buffalo (n = 7) and cow teats (n = 8) were performed. It was determined that post‐stimulation mean TCL values were significantly higher in nervous buffaloes than those of teats in docile buffaloes (p < .05). A significant positive correlation between TCD and TD, TL and TC in both docile and nervous buffaloes was noted (p < .05). Unlike nervous buffaloes where only 3/14 teat canals were open by 3rd minute of milking stimulation, almost all (9/10) teat canals were observed opened in docile buffaloes. There were fewer muscle but more collagen bundles in buffalo teats compared with cow teats. It seems that temperament of animal during milking effects the milking efficiency, and in nervous buffaloes, probably the stimulation alone may not be sufficient for opening of the teat canal and hence achieve complete milking.

Electro-ejaculation is a technique used to collect semen from rams. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stress response and the oxidant/antioxidant levels during electro-ejaculation (EE) procedure in merino rams. To assess the effect of this technique, six 3-4 years old merino rams were subjected to semen collection by EE. The technique was applied one time in previously untreated animals. The studied parameters [Heart and respiratory rate, rectal temperature, white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) levels, hematocrit (Hct) value, blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, plasma cortisol, nitric oxide (NO), glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations as well as plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS)] were measured before and immediately after electrical stimulation. Heart and respiratory rate, WBC, MDA, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations as well as plasma TOS and cortisol concentrations were dramatically increased after EE procedure, whereas rectal temperature, TAS and GSH concentrations were significantly decreased. These results demonstrate that MDA, GSH, TAS and TOS were the most powerful markers for evaluating the oxidant/antioxidant status in merino rams. Furthermore, EE procedure was a stressful situation leading to an oxidative stress, which can be amplified by increased glucocorticoid secretion.

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The present study trial was conducted to investigate the effects of pomegranate molasses on egg quality at different storage periods. A total of 240 Babcock white laying hens (58 weeks old) were divided into 5 groups (n=48) with 8 subgroups having 6 hens in each. Pomegranate molasses was added in the drinking water to experimental groups with 0%, 0.1%, 0.25 %, 0.5%, and 1%, respectively during 4 weeks. At the end of study (30 days), total of 320 eggs were collected randomly and eighty eggs (80) were analyzed at 0 day of storage while other eggs were stored at 4°C temperature for 10, 20 and 30 days. The result reveals that the egg weight, egg shell thickness and albumin index remained non-significant (P>0.05) during the whole trial Moreover , Haught unit showed positive response in the group B and D at 10 day storage as compared with control group however, it was remained non-significant (P<0.05) at 0, 20 and 30 days of storage. It is concluded that pomgranate mollases has shown positive effect on some egg quality traits during several storage periods 0, 10, 20, 30 days.

No abstract