Önder Canbolat

Determination of potential nutritive value of young, old and senescent leaves of Arbutus andrachne tree.

Abstract Kamalak, A., Canbolat, O., Atalay, A.I. and Kaplan, M. 2010. Determination of potential nutritive value of young, old and senescent leaves of Arbutus andrachne tree. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 37: 257–260. Potential nutritive value of young, old and senescent leaves of Arbutus andrachne tree was measured using chemical composition and in vitro gas production technique. Maturity had a significantly adverse effect on the chemical composition and in vitro gas production kinetics. Although crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber contents decreased, condensed tannin (CT) and ash contents increased with maturity. The organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) ranged from 59.34 to 65.47% and 8.84 to 9.76 MJ/kg DM, respectively. It is concluded that young and old leaves of Arbutus andrachne tree could be considered a moderate quality forage for sheep and goats. However, senescent leaves are only low quality forage.

Effects of ensiling density on nutritive value of maize and sorghum silages

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of different ensiling densities on fermentation, aerobic stability, and nutritive value of maize and sorghum silages. Maize and sorghum were harvested at dough (363 g/kg) and milk stages (275 g/kg), respectively. Herbages were chopped approximately 1.5 cm after harvest and then ensiled in mini silos at high and low-bulk densities for 8.5 weeks. Different bulk densities were achieved by ensiling different weights of herbage in the fixed-volume mini silos (1.5-L anaerobic jars, Weck, Germany). The obtained dry matter (DM) densities were 168 and 216 kg of DM/m3 for maize forage and 132 and 178 kg of DM/m3 for sorghum forage. Fermentation kinetics, the rate of aerobic deterioration upon aerobic exposure, and nutrient digestibility were followed during the periods of ensiling (on days 2, 4, 8, 15, and 60). In all cases, increased packing density resulted in silages with lower acetate content, ammonium N levels, and fermentation losses, but lactate content did not differ. Butyrate was detected in appreciable amounts only in sorghum silage. Propionate was not detected in any silage. Tightly packed silages remained stable upon exposure to air. Tight packing increases the digestibly of nutrients and improves the energy content of silages. These data show that high density limits air infiltration and reduces the oxidation loss during storage and feed-out. As a consequence, more dry matter is recovered and more energy is preserved.

The effects of different feeding management systems on performance of a slow-growing broiler genotype

1. A total of 420 male 1-d-old chicks of a slow-growing genetic line (Hubbard ISA Red JA) were used as the trial material. Two diets that were low in fats and high in cereals, and free from growth promoters and animal protein, and formulated at two energy and protein concentrations, were fed ad libitum or 80% of ad libitum. The birds had access to pasture from 14 d to slaughter at 84 d of age. 2. The treatment groups were: Dilute-AL (energy and protein diluted diet fed ad libitum), Dilute-R (restricted energy and protein diluted diet), High-AL (high energy and protein diet fed ad libitum), High-R (restricted high energy and protein diet). 3. Daily weight gains and feed consumptions were recorded in each replicate. 4. The live weight on d 84 was lowest in the Dilute-R group, whereas the highest live weight was in the High-AL group. The highest feed consumption was found in the Dilute-AL and High-AL groups. The worst feed conversion ratio was determined in the Dilute-AL and Dilute-R groups. The effect of treatments on mortality was not significant. 5. The best feed conversion efficiency was obtained in the feed-restricted group receiving the high energy and protein diet. The results suggest that forage may contribute to the nutrition of slow-growing free range broiler chickens if suitable pasture species are grown.

Effect of different diets on the behaviour of slow-growing broiler genotype.

Abstract Ipek, A., Karabulut, A., Sahan, U., Canbolat, O. and Yilmaz-Dikmen, B. 2009. Effect of different diets on the behaviour of slow-growing broiler genotype. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 87–90. A total of 420 male day-old-chicks of a slow-growing genetic line (Hubbard ISA Red JA) were used as the trial material. The treatment groups were: Dilute-AL (energy and protein diluted diet fed ad libitum), Dilute-R (restricted energy and protein diluted diet), High-AL (high energy and protein diet fed ad libitum) and High-R (restricted high energy and protein diet). Restricted birds showed a greater percentage of time spot pecking, preening and in feather maintenance and less time resting than birds fed ad libitum but the differences were relatively small.