Özdal Gökdal

Umbilical artery doppler sonography in Saanen goat fetuses during singleton and multiple pregnancies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the blood flow from the umbilical artery (UA) in healthy pregnant goats. Doppler sonography examinations were performed every two weeks in Saanen goats with a singleton (n = 5) or multiple (n = 4) pregnancy from 40 to 145 days of gestation. Fetal heart rates (FHR), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) were recorded from the mid-cord site of the free-floating umbilical cord. FHR decreased gradually as the pregnancy progressed and significantly decreased during the last two examinations of all fetuses (P < 0.05). The mean PI level was dramatically different (P < 0.05) until 85 days of gestation, after which it reached a plateau level until parturition. Similar to PI, RI decreased by 85 days of gestation (P < 0.05), and decreased again by 130s gestation. No reverse or absent end-diastolic flow were observed in fetuses during any examinations. When comparing singleton and multiple pregnancies, there were no significant differences in UA pulsatility or resistance in fetuses seen. The middle of the second trimester was observed to be a threshold stage for indices in the pattern of caprine pregnancy. In conclusion, this work provides additional values that might be useful when evaluating singleton and multiple pregnancies, and may be evaluated in further studies regarding fetal monitoring.

The effect of immunization against LHRH on body growth and carcass characteristics in Karakas ram lambs

The effects of immunization against luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) on body growth and carcass char- acteristics in Karakas ram lambs were investigated using recombinant LHRH fusion proteins. Recombinant fusion proteins, ovalbumin-LHRH-7 and thioredoxin-LHRH-7, were produced using recombinant DNA technology and expressed inE. coli. The control group (C, n = 5) was injected with ovalbumin and thioredoxin recombinant protein mixture, the immunization group (I, n = 6) was injected with a ovalbumin-LHRH-7 and thioredoxin-LHRH-7 recombinant fusion protein mixture (anti-LHRH vaccine) and, ram lambs in the elastrator group (E, n = 5) were castrated using elastrator bands. Animals in each group were weaned at 17 weeks of age and injected (primary immunization) with either mixture at 18 weeks of age or castrated. The C and I groups received a booster immunization 8 weeks later (26 weeks of age). Animals were housed in groups, weighed every 2 weeks and slaughtered at 36 weeks of age. Carcass of slaughtered lambs were chilled for 24 h at +4 ◦ C and evaluated for carcass characteristics. Immunization did not reduce growth rate and live body weights. Immunization and castration had no effect on carcass measurements and loin eye muscle area, hot and cold carcass weights, dressing percentage and wholesale cuts. Immunization against LHRH reduced testis weight and immunized animals had leaner carcasses than castrates. It was concluded that immunizing ram lambs against LHRH using new recombinant LHRH fusion proteins could be an alternative to physical castration to improve carcass quality in ram lamb production; however, further research is required to determine the effective immunization and slaughter age to improve carcass traits. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

The effects of immunological castration against GnRH with recombinant OL protein (Ovalbumin-LHRH-7) on carcass and meat quality characteristics, histological appearance of testes and pituitary gland in Kıvırcık male lambs.

The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of immunization against GnRH using OL protein (Ovalbumin-LHRH-7) on feedlot performance, carcass, meat quality and some reproductive traits in Kıvırcık ram lambs. Ram lambs in the immunization (I, n=7) group were immunized against GnRH using OL protein and boosted 2 weeks later. Control (C, n=7) group was not treated. The animals were kept at pasture for 6 weeks after the first immunization, subjected to a 70 day fattening program, and then slaughtered. Growth performance, various carcass and meat quality characteristics were not affected from the immunization. GnRH immunization induced GnRH antibody production, suppressed testosterone production and testicular growth (P<0.01). Testicular structure was negatively affected from the immunization, but not pituitary. These results suggest that immunization against GnRH with OL could be an alternative castration technique in ram lambs without negatively affecting carcass and meat quality characteristics.

GnRH or eCG treatment fails to restore reproductive function in GnRH immunized ewes

This study was designed to evaluate the potential of using eCG or GnRH in restoring reproductive functions in GnRH immunized ewes. Thirty-three multiparous Kivircik ewes were randomly assigned into either control group (n=11) or immunization group (n=22). Ewes were immunized against GnRH by injecting with a cocktail of ovalbumin-LHRH-7 (ovalbumin-GnRH-7) and thioredoxin-LHRH-7 (thioredoxin-GnRH-7) fusion proteins generated by recombinant DNA technology in April. 500 IU eCG or 0.008 mg GnRH analogue was used to induce ovulations. Serum GnRH antibodies were present in animals of the immunized group beginning the second week after the first immunization and maintained throughout the study (14 months). Immunization caused anestrus in immunized ewes. eCG or GnRH analogue administration given after 14 days progestagen (20 mg fluorogestone acetate, FGA) treatment during breeding season (mid July) did not induce ovulation in these ewes. Two more attempts with single or multiple eCG injections failed to induce ovulation in this group as well. It appears that the gonadotropin stimulation was not of adequate time since neither eCG nor GnRH administration was able to restore reproductive function in immunized animals. The immunization effect lasted more than a year. These results suggest that GnRH immunization exerts its effect via the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and that more than such stimulation is required to overcome the reproductive suppression.

The effects of supplemental vitamin E on reproductive development of prepubertal Karya male lambs.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation on testicular and behavioural development, and histological appearance of testes in Karya male lambs. Thirteen lambs weaned at 2.5 months of age were used in the experiment. Experiment was carried out over a period of 70 days and all lambs were fed ad libitum on concentrate and 100 g/day clover hay per lamb. In addition, the experimental group (n=6) received a supplement of 45 mg/day vitamin E (dl-α-tocopherol acetate) per lamb. Testicular measurements and blood testosterone concentrations were recorded every second week. Behavioural tests were carried out four times per animal at three days intervals during the last 12 days of the experiment. After slaughtering, testicular tissue samples of all animals were collected and evaluated for the histological appearances. Except for mount attempts (P<0.05), sexual behaviour and testicular growth characteristics of the lambs were similar. The mounting parameters, testosterone concentrations and testes and epididymides weights were similar between the two groups. However, the mean of mounting weight was found lower (P<0.05) with Vitamin E lambs compared to control (28.78±3.48 vs. 33.98±3.64 kg, respectively). The area of seminiferous tubules was statistically different (P<0.001) between the two groups. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups for most of the reproductive characters. These findings suggest that supplementation of Vitamin E during early prepubertal age of Karya male lambs does not have considerable effects on the reproductive characteristics.

Öğrencilerin Gevaş ve Başkale Meslek Yüksekokulları Bitkisel ve Hayvansal Üretim Bölümlerini Tercih Nedenlerinin Belirlenmesine İlişkin Bir Çalışma

Bu calismanin amaci, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Gevas ve Baskale Meslek Yuksekokullari Bitkisel ve Hayvansal Uretim bolumlerinde okuyan ogrencilerin tercih nedenlerini ortaya koymak ve mesleki egitim ile ilgili olarak yapilacak planlamalara isik tutmaktir. Anket calismasi 2017 yili icinde 178 ogrenci uzerinde (Baskale Meslek Yuksekokulu’ndan 50 ogrenci, Gevas Meslek Yuksekokulu’ndan 128 Ogrenci) “gozlem altinda anket” yontemiyle yurutulmustur. Sonuclar incelendiginde, ankete katilan ogrencilerin %24.16’si ilgili programlara “ilgi duydugu icin”, %13.48’i ise “dikey gecisle fakulte okumak icin” okudugu programi tercih ettigi anlasilmaktadir. Ogrencilerin okudugu programdan mezuniyetleri sonrasinda hedefleri arasinda %49.44 ile “dikey gecisle fakulte okumak” birinci sirada yer alirken bunu, %17.98 oraninda “kendi isini kurmak” ve %16.29 oraninda da “meslegi ile ilgili bir devlet kurumunda calisma” hedefleri izlemektedir. Okulu bitirdikten sonraki hedef degiskenleri arasinda kizlar genellikle “dikey gecisle fakulte okumak” isterken, erkeklerde ise mezuniyet sonrasi “beklentinin yuksek olmadigi” saptanmistir (p<0.05). Ki-kare analizi sonucunda cinsiyet ile ogrencilerin okuduklari programi tercih nedenleri arasindaki iliski istatistik olarak onemli bulunmustur (p<0.01). Ogrencilerin yariya yakininin tercih ve hedef olarak “dikey gecis sinaviyla fakulte okumak” seklinde bir dusuncelerinin olmasi, meslek yuksekokullari mesleki egitim hedefleri bakimindan degerlendirilmesi gereken dikkat cekici bir bulgudur.

The possibilities of using individual birth weights as weaning criteria in dairy goat farming

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibilities of using individual birth weight of kids as weaning criteria in Saanen and Alpine goats under intensive conditions. A total of 24 does and their 40 kids were divided to weaning groups when the kids reached three (X3) or four times (X4) of their individual birth weights. The experiment design was a 2×2 factorial design with two weaning stages (X3 vs X4) and two breeds (S: Saanen and A: Alpine). The averages of weaning age of the SX3, AX3, SX4 and AX4 kids were determined as 42.75, 42.21, 53.15 and 65.81 days, respectively. The weaning groups and the interaction between weaning and breed had significant effects (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively) on weaning age of the kids. The average daily weight gain before weaning was different in weaning groups (P<0.001). On the contrary, the growth performances of the kids until breeding age were not different between groups. The milk yield characteristics of dams in groups were not different. The results indicated...

Some Factors Affecting Milk Production and Post Partum Body Weight of Fat-Tailed Norduz Ewes in Turkey

Abstract Bingöl, M., Aygün, T., Gökdal, Ö. and Yilmaz, A. 2005. Some factors affecting milk production and post partum body weight of fat-tailed Norduz ewes in Turkey. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 27: 125–127. This study was conducted to determine some traits of milk production and post partum body weights of Norduz ewes in Van-Norduz provinces. Overall means for lactation period, lactation milk production and postpartum body weight were 174 days, 178 liters and 58 kg, respectively. Only post partum body weight was affected (P<0.05) by age of ewe or parturition type. The Norduz ewe has been recommended for milk production.

Hayvancılık Destekleme Politikalarına Çiftçilerin Yaklaşımlarının Bölgelerarası Karşılaştırmalı Analizi / A Regional Comparative Analysis of Farmers’ Approaches to Livestock Support Policies

OZET : Spermatogonial transplantasyon, verici bir hayvandan izole edilen spermatogonial hucrelerin bir dizi farkli yontemler kullanilarak testisleri germ hucrelerinden temizlenip infertil hale getirilmis olan alici hayvanin testislerine transfer edilmesi islemidir. Aktarilan spermatogonial hucreler kendilerini seminefer tuplerin bazal tabakasina konuslandirirlar ve spermatogenesisi baslatarak germ hucreleri tamamen bosaltilan alici hayvanin testisini yeni germ hucreleri ile doldurarak fertil bir testis meydana getirirler. Bu teknige iliskin calismalar spermatogonial kok hucrelerinin verici hayvanlardan izole edilmesi, kultur edilmesi, dondurularak saklanmasi, transplantasyon yapilmadan once alici testislerdeki spermatogonianin yok edilerek temizlenmesi, aktarilan hucrelerin alici testislerde varliginin belirlenmesi icin marker sistemlerinin gelistirilmesi ve spermatogonial transplantasyonun farkli turler arasinda uygulanisi seklinde siralanabilir. Bu teknigin ciftlik hayvanlarinda damizlik degeri belirleme zamanini azaltma, normal genetik degere sahip alici hayvanlari kisa bir sure icerisinde vericinin genetik degerine sahip germ hucresi ureten hayvanlara donusturebilme, transgenik ciftlik hayvanlari uretme gibi amaclarla yaygin olarak kullanilabilecegi ongorulmektedir. Spermatogonial transplantasyon teknigi spermatogenesis, spermatogonial kok hucreleri ve gamet-testis fonksiyonlari ve interaksiyonlarini arastirmada oldukca kullanisli bir yontemdir. Bu teknigin temel bilimden klinik uygulamalara, nesli tukenen turlerden hayvan islahina bircok alanda yararli uygulamalara yon verecegi ongorulmektedir. Anahtar kelimeler: Spermatogonial transplantasyon, testis, hayvan islahi Spermatogonial Transplantation and Its Utilization in Animal Breeding ABSTRACT : Spermatogonial transplantation is a technique which spermatogonial germ cells isolated from a donor animal are transplanted into the testes of recipient animal whose testes were depleted from germ cells. Transferred spermatogonial germ cells translocate themselves to the base of semineferous tubules, repopulate the germ-cell depleted testes of recipient animal by reinitiating spermatogenesis and restore the fertility. Isolation, culture and cryopreservation of spermatogonial stem cells from donor animals, depleting the germ cells of recipient testes prior to transplantation, developing marker systems to determine donor derived spermatogonia in the recipient testes and interspecies transplantation could be considered as the main topics of spermatogonial transplantation studies carried out so far. This technique is speculated to be used for various purposes such as decreasing the time needed to prove the genetic value of the livestock animals, converting the genetically average recipient animals into genetically superior germ cell producing animals in a short time and generating transgenic livestock. Spermatogonial transplantation is a useful technique to be used in investigating spermatogenesis, spermatogonial stem cells, gamete-testis functions and interactions. It is thought that this technique can be utilized in a variety of the areas such as basic science, clinical applications, endangered species and animal breeding. Key words: Spermatogonial transplantation, testis, animal breeding