Kemal Karabağ

Comparison of growth characteristics of chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) raised in captivity.

Abstract Balcioğlu, M.S., Rizilkaya, K., Karabağ, K., Alkan, S., Yolcu, H.İ. and Şahin, E.2009. Comparison of growth characteristics of chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) raised in captivity. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 21–24. This study was carried out to estimate growth curve of chukar partridges and to compare the parameter estimates based on Gompertz, Bertalanffy and Logistic models. The growth curve functions were fitted to the observed data individually by using non-linear regression procedure with Marquart algorithm of SAS, NLIN procedure. Gompertz model (with highest determination coefficient and the lowest residual variance) was found to be the best to determine the growth pattern. Sex had significant effect on the estimates of parameter A and weight and age at inflection point within each model.

The effects of thermal manipulation during early and late embryogenesis on hatchability, hatching weight and body weight in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract. This study aimed to determine the effects of thermal manipulation during early embryogenesis (EE) and late embryogenesis (LE) on hatching weight, body weight at 5 weeks of age, hatchability and embryonic mortality rate in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Incubation conditions from day 0 to day 17 were; 37.7 °C and 55 % relative humidity for control group. In the thermally treated eggs during early embryogenesis (EE6-EE8 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41 °C and relative humidity to 65 % for 3 hours (12.00-15.00) at 3 consecutive days. Also, in the late embryogenesis stage (LE12-LE14 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41 °C and relative humidity to 65 % 3 hours (12.00–15.00) at 3 consecutive days. At hatch in each trial, all chicks were wing-banded and individually weighted. Thermal manipulations had significant effect on hatching weight, and lowest hatching weights were found in late embryogenesis (LE) group in terms of male and female. In addition, thermal manipulations and gender had significant effect on body weight at 5 weeks of age and lowest body weights at 5 weeks of age were dedected in late embryogenesis (LE) group for both gender.

Genetic Diversity Among Selected Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Lines Using RAPD Markers

Abstract Karabağ, K. and Balcioğlu, M.S. 2010. Genetic diversity among selected Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) lines using RAPD markers. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 149–152. The intra and inter genetic polymorphisms and genetic relatedness of 12 generations selected 3 lines (HBW1, LBW, L); 7 generations selected 1 line (HBW2) and a control (C) line in Japanese quail were investigated by RAPD-PCR. Fourteen DNA samples (7♂-7 ♀) from each line were analyzed using 24 primers. One hundred ninety six polymorphic loci were amplified (150 to 2600 bp) and polymorphism rate was calculated as 99.49%. Genotypie polymorphism rates were calculated as 63.45%, 31.47%, 42.13%, 35.53% and 36.55% in C, LBW, HBW1, HBW2 and L, respectively. Average heterozygosis within lines (Hs), total heterozygosis (HT)and average Shannon index (I) values were 0.169, 0.354 and 0.528, respectively. The genetic variation was highest in C and lowest in LBW line. The genetic identity within line varied from 0.747 (C) to 0.875 (DCA) and between lines varied from 0.603 (C-L) to 0.813 (HBW1-LBW). It was found that genetically similar selection line to base ancestor (C) is HBW2 line (0.667) while farthest is L line (0.494). Thus genetic variation within line and the genetic relationships among lines could be estimated successfully using RAPD-PCR in selected Japanese quail lines.

Seven SNPs in the Coding Sequence of Leptin Receptor Gene in Long-term Selected Japanese Quail Lines

The objective of this study was to identify SNPs in the coding sequence of the leptin receptor gene and to test for their possible association with 20 economically advantageous traits in 15 generations of 2 selected (HBW and LBW) and a control of japanase quail. A 350-bp part of the leptin receptor coding region was amplified and sequenced and understood that the fragment contained 7 SNPs (GenBank: KP674322.1-KP674328.1) that were detected in 5 loci (T3216C, T3265C, T3265G, C3265G, T3303C, A3311G, and T3347C) in a total of 30 individuals. The T3216C and T3303C SNPs located at the end of the codon were synonymous and did not affect the presence of proline. However, phenylalanine, leucine and valine were produced when the T3265C, T3265G and C3265G SNPs, respectively, were present. Glutamine or arginine was produced when the A3311G SNP was A or G, respectively, and serine was produced when the T3347C SNP was C. Although codons and amino acid sequences changed due to the second SNP, the secondary protein structure was not changed. However, the fourth and fifth SNPs changed both the amino acid sequences and secondary protein structure. Pairing the SNP loci with phenotypic traits created haplogroups. When all individuals were evaluated together, some of the differences between the haplogroups were statistically significant (p<0.05; p<0.01). These results showed that both the sequence and structure of the leptin receptor gene could be altered by long-term selection. However, to achieve a more precise understanding of the role of leptin, entire coding sequences of leptin and the leptin receptor should be studied.

Effects of egg weight on egg quality traits in partridge (Alectoris Chukar)

In this study, the aim was to determine the internal and external quality traits of partridge (Alectoris chukar) eggs as well as the Pearson correlation coefficients among these traits. For use in this research, a total of 200 partridge eggs were collected over three sequential days. The partridges were housed at the Research Unit of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Akdeniz. The eggs were categorized according to weight and classified as ≤19.0 g, 19.1–20.0 g, 20.1–21.0 g and ≥21.1 g. Average eggshell thickness was highest in groups of 20.1–21.0 g and ≥21.1 g. In contrast, lowest eggshell weight was calculated in groups of ≤19.0 g and 19.1–20.0 g. In this study, egg shape index, yolk index, Haugh unit, albumen width and unit surface shell weight were not significantly affected by egg weight groups. Whereas egg length, egg width, shell weight, shell thickness, shell surface area, egg volume, yolk weight, yolk height, yolk width, yolk ratio, albumen height, albumen length, albumen weight, albumen index, albumen ratio and yolk/albumen ratio were significantly affected by egg weight groups. At the same time, there was found a significant relationship amongst the internal and external egg quality traits.

The effects of thermal manipulations during early and late embryogenesis on body temperatures of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thermal manipulations during early embryogenesis (EE) and late embryogenesis (LE) on body temperature of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Incubation conditions from day 0 to day 17 were 37.7°C and 55% relative humidity for control group. In the thermally treated eggs during EE (EE6, EE7 and EE8 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41°C and relative humidity to 65% for 3 hours (12:00–15:00) on the sixth, seventh and eighth days of incubation. Also, in the LE stage (EL12, EL13 and EL14 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41°C and relative humidity to 65% for 3 hours (12:00–15:00) on the 12th, 13th and 14th days of incubation. Average temperature, relative humidity and total heat of indoor air were changed from 28.71 to 30.44°C, from 45.69 to 57.15% and from 14.67 to 16.16 kcal kg–1 dry air, respectively. Higher total heat of indoor air in 10–11 weeks than that of other weeks was found. Significant differences between the control (41.52±0.26°C) and manipulation groups were found, but no significant difference between the EE (41.23±0.40°C) and LE (41.26±0.37°C) groups with respect to body temperatures. Body temperatures of quails were measured as 41.55±0.31°C, 41.56±0.26°C; 41.17±0.33°C and 41.07±0.30°C at 10, 11, 12 and 13 weeks of age, respectively. In addition, differences among the weeks in point of body temperatures of quails were found to be significant (p<0.01).

Effects of Season and Line on Sexual Maturity and Some Egg Yield Traits in Selected Japanese Quails (Coturnix Coturnix japonica)

Abstract Alkan, S., Karabag, K., Galic, A. and Balcioglu, M.S. 2009. Effects of season and line on egg yield traits in Japanese quails. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 105–108. This study was conducted to determine the effects of season and lines on age at sexual maturity, body weight at sexual maturity and some egg yield traits in 11 generations of selected Japanese quail. The material used in this research was selected from high (HL) or low (LL) body weight Japanese quail lines according to 5-week body weights and their random bred control line and layer line (L) for 120 d egg production. Average egg weight was the lowest in summer and in LL line, which also had lowest total egg number, total egg weight and hen day egg production. Maximum eggs were produced by L line, while heaviest eggs were produced by HL line. The highest and lowest ages at sexual maturity were determined in winter and summer seasons, respectively. Also, the heaviest first egg weight was found in winter season. It is concluded that lines and seasons generally affected quail egg production.