Taki Karsli

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 characterization and population structure of six brown layer pure lines by using microsatellite markers

Objective The first stage in both breeding and programs for the conservation of genetic resources are the identification of genetic diversity in the relevant population. The aim of the present study is to identify genetic diversity of six brown layer pure chicken lines (Rhode Island Red [RIRI, RIRII], Barred Rock [BARI, BARII], Columbian Rock [COL], and line 54 [L-54]) with microsatellite markers. Furthermore, the study aims to employ its findings to discuss the possibilities for the conservation and sustainable use of these lines that have been bred as closed populations for a long time. Methods In the present study, a total number of 180 samples belonging to RIRI (n = 30), RIRII (n = 30), BARI (n = 30), BARII (n = 30), L-54 (n = 30), and COL (n = 30) lines were genotyped using 22 microsatellite loci. Microsatellite markers are extremely useful tools in the identification of genetic diversity since they are distributed throughout the eukaryotic genome in multitudes, demonstrate co-dominant inheritance and they feature a high rate of polymorphism and repeatability. Results In this study, we found all loci to be polymorphic and identified the average number of alleles per locus to be in the range between 4.41 (BARI) and 5.45 (RIRI); the observed heterozygosity to be in the range between 0.31 (RIRII) and 0.50 (BARII); and FIS (inbreeding coefficient) values in the range between 0.16 (L-54) and 0.46 (RIRII). The FIS values obtained in this context points out to a deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium due to heterozygote deficiency in six different populations. The Neighbour-Joining tree, Factorial Correspondence Analysis and STRUCTURE clustering analyzes showed that six brown layer lines were separated according to their genetic origins. Conclusion The results obtained from the study indicate a medium level of genetic diversity, high level inbreeding in chicken lines and high level genetic differentiation between chicken lines.

Determination of genetic polymorphism in Guney Karaman local Turkish sheep breed by using STR markers

The objective of this study was to assess genetic diversity of Guney Karaman Turkish local sheep breed. A total of 29 samples were genotyped by using 14 STR markers. All markers were polymorphic. The number of alleles in Guney Karaman sheep breed ranged from 3 to 11 per locus, with a mean of 7.42. The average observed and expected heterozygosity was 0.659 and 0.794, respectively. Mean inbreeding coefficient (Fis) value was found 0.175. The PIC values ranged from 0.569 to 0.860 with a mean of 0.743. The findings of this research demonstrate at moderate level gene diversity and heterozygosity with lower inbreeding in Guney Karaman sheep breed.

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).