İsmail Bayram

The use of ultrasound to predict the carcass composition of live Akkaraman lambs

The aim of this study was to measure fat thickness, area and depth of the longissimus dorsi muscle using ultrasonography, to estimate carcass composition in live Akkaraman lambs. Fat thickness, area and depth of the longissimus dorsi muscle between the 12th and 13th ribs were measured in vivo and on the carcass after slaughter, using real time ultrasound in 40 Akkaraman lambs. To estimate the carcass composition, one-half of a carcass was dissected into muscle, fat and bone after slaughter. Overall, correlation coefficients between ultrasound and carcass longissimus dorsi muscle area, depth and fat thickness were 0.82, 0.60 and 0.77, respectively. Estimates of carcass composition for Akkaraman lambs based on LW explained 78%, 82%, 74%, 52%, 75%, 36% and 72% of the variations for muscle, total carcass fat, subcutaneous fat, inter-muscular fat, non-carcass fat, tail fat and bone, respectively. The introduction of UFT, ULMA and ULMD as independent variables in addition to LW in the multiple linear regression equations further improved the variations for total muscle (80%), carcass fat (84%) and bone weight (76%) whereas no improvement was observed for subcutaneous, intermuscular, non-carcass and tail fat. The results showed that in vivo ultrasound fat thickness and measurement of area and depth of the longissimus dorsi muscle in association with live weight could be used to estimate muscle, total body fat and bone weight in Akkaraman lambs.

Effects of probiotics: alone and in a mixture of Biosacc plus Zinc Bacitracin on the caecal microflora of Japanese quail

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two commercially available probiotics, alone and in combination with an antibiotic, on the caecal flora of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared under unstressed conditions. Thirty-four 90-day-old Japanese quail were selected for this study. The birds were divided into four groups, two groups of nine birds and two groups of eight birds. The animals in these groups were given feed containing 0.5 kg per tonne of probiotics alone (Protexin or Biosacc), a mixture of probiotic plus antibiotic (Biosacc plus Zinc Bacitracin at 0.5 and 0.0525 ppm, respectively), and a group where no supplement was added to be used as controls. The total count of aerobic bacteria, lactobacilli, enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, enteroccoci, salmonellae, sulphite-reducing anaerobic bacteria (clostridia), and pH values in the caecal content of the birds were examined. No significant differences were detected among the four groups for pH values and bacterial number (p>0.05), except for sulphite-reducing anaerobic bacteria (p<0.001). These results suggest that the use of probiotics alone and/or a mixture of a probiotic plus antibiotic as a feed supplement does not have a major suppressing effect on the majority of bacterial groups in the caecal flora of mature, healthy Japanese quail reared in unstressed conditions.

Stress responses to comparative handling procedures in sheep

The objective of this study was to compare some husbandry procedures on the base of physiological stress parameters and evaluate the welfare status in sheep. Forty ewes were used as the study material. Measurements were taken during several routine husbandry procedures such as milking, shearing, weighing, loading and hoof care. Data regarding time spent for each application, as well as heart and respiratory rates were recorded during the applications. Blood samples were taken 15 min before and after each application and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px), cortisol T(3) and T(4) parameters were measured. In addition, changes in the same parameters between pre- and post-application periods were evaluated. According to the results, machine milking caused less stress than hand milking. No significant difference was seen between shearing methods for hand shearer or clipper; however, both applications caused stress in animals. The results for weighing methods of animals demonstrated significant differences in cortisol, T(3) and T(4) values in favor of traditional method. Cortisol, T(3) and T(4) levels were significantly higher in manual loading compared with loading by ramp. Regarding hoof care, all the examined parameters differed in favor of modern method. On the other hand, significant differences were determined between the stress parameters regarding pre- and post-applications. All values differed for hand milking while no significant difference was observed in MDA and T(3) values in machine milking group. Parameters in weighing groups changed significantly. For loading process, GSH, cortisol, T(3) and T(4) values differed in both treatment groups. With regard to hoof care, parameters except T(4) in laying group differed significantly. An increase occurred in minute-based measurements of heart and respiratory rates parallel to physiological data. The number of the respiratory rates during the applications differed except for the shearing process. All the parameters displayed significant differences between groups in terms of heart rates. Time spent for each application also differed between groups. Time saved for milking, shearing, weighing, loading and hoof care was 3.23 min, 4.37 min, 1.71 min, 7.85 s and 1.55 min, respectively. These results appear to provide a tangible advantage of using new husbandry methods to the breeders. It was concluded that using new methods in sheep husbandry procedures provided advantages in terms of saving time and reducing labor, as well as improved conditions for welfare of animals. In addition, it facilitated the routine works and flock husbandry.

Effects of poppy seed meal on egg production and hatching results in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

This study was carried out to determine the effects of poppy seed meal (PSM) on the egg production and hatching of quail. Two experiments were undertaken. In the first experiment, 240 quail, reared under the same conditions, were divided into four groups of 60 birds each (which were, in turn, subdivided into four subgroups of 15 each for experimental replicates). The first, second, and third experimental groups were fed ratios containing 5%, 15%, and 25% PSM, respectively, over 12 weeks. The control group received no PSM. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and artificial light was provided for 16 h a day. During the first experiment, egg production, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. In the second experiment, 240 female and 48 male quail were divided into four groups, as in the preceding experiment, and the birds were housed in cages at a ratio of one male to five females. The diets and their presentation to the quails were the same as in the preceding experiment. The results of the two experiments showed that the addition of PSM to the feed ratios increased egg production, feed consumption, and feed conversion per kg of eggs and per dozen eggs. However, PSM addition at all percentages significantly reduced (P<0.001) hatchability, mainly because of increased infertility and embryonic deaths.

Effect of Corn Particle Size and Inclusion of Organic Acid in The Diet on Growth Performance and Gastrointestinal Structure in Young Chicks

The effect of 3 corn particle sizes (dgw: 375, 1117, and 2402 µm) combined with or without organic acids (0.3 g/kg of Galliacid S®) was investigated on broilers from day 1 to day 21; 540 1-day old Ross 708 males were raised in 36 pens (3x2 factorial design, 6 blocks each). We measured: body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, liver weight, pH weight and height of empty gizzard, pH and length of intestine and caeca, height and width of ileal villi, crypt depth/gland diameter, total bacteria count. Different corn particle sizes and organic acid supplements only affected feed intake (days 14 and 21), feed conversion ratio (day 14), villus height, and crypt depth. On day 21, fine milling had negative effects on body weights compared with larger feed particle size (816 vs 848 and 844 g); acidic additive had a positive effect on broiler growth (859 vs 813 g). Length of small intestinal villi and crypt depth were affected by both particle size and organic acids (fine to coarse small intestinal villi: 1869a, 1401c, and 1039d µm in non-acidified; 1708b, 1535c, and 942e µm in acidified. Fine to coarse crypt depth: 102ab, 98b; 65c µm in non-acidified; 106a, 70c, and 66c µm in acidified). No difference was observed in total bacteria counts of the gut in relation to the different treatments. Use of organic acids during starter phase is useful, especially when the milling process is inappropriate.

Effects of oregano (Oregano onites) on performance, hatchability and egg quality parameters of laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

abstract This study aimed to determine the effects of different inclusion levels of oregano into the diet on daily feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg production, hatchability, egg palatability, egg weight, external and internal egg quality, live weight increase, serum cholesterol and yolk cholesterol level in laying quails. A total of 216 laying quails at 42 days of age were divided into 36 cages, 6 birds in each (4 females and 2 males), 6 cages per thesis. The 1st group was left as control (OR0) without any supplementation of oregano. The other five experimental groups were OR10, OR20, OR30, OR40, and OR50 which were fed with the diets supplemented with 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g/kg of oregano, respectively. The experiment lasted for 63 days until the quails reached 105 days of age. As a result of this study, 50 g/kg oregano supplementation appeared to be the best as respects taste (P<0.002). The inclusion level of 20 g/kg increased fertility (P<0.02) however, above that level fertility was reduced. This peculiarity of oregano may be taken into account by the poultry breeder companies. For the other segments of the poultry industry, the usage of oregano up to 50 g/kg seemed to be appropriate.

The effects of hazelnut oil usage on live weight, carcass, rumen, some blood parameters and femur head ash in Akkaraman lambs

This study was carried out to determine the effects of hazelnut oil supplementation in the diets on growth, carcass and blood parameters as well as rumen pH, protozoa quantity and femur head ash in Akkaraman lambs. Forty native Akkaraman lambs were used. The lambs were divided into two groups as treatment and control. The treatment group diet was supplemented with 3% hazelnut oil. The study was continued for 84days. The values regarding plasma malondialdehyde, cholesterol, triglyceride and antioxidant activity levels were found to be lower in the treatment group. In conclusion, supplementing 3% hazelnut oil in the diet of Akkaraman lambs had no detrimental effects on live weight, carcass and blood parameters, rumen microbial activity and femur ash. While the plasma glutathione and glucose levels increased, total cholesterol levels decreased. Considering the low level of malondialdehyde and high level of glutathione, it could be claimed that supplementation of hazelnut oil at 3% in diets plays a protective role against oxidative damage in the body. Therefore it could be used in sheep feeding.