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The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of diet with increasing dietary levels of crude protein (CP) on digestibility, rumen pH, growth performance, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and on several blood parameters (serum urea, glucose and total protein), in the finishing period of Bafra lambs. Thirty male Bafra lambs, which were 3-3.5 months of age and average live weight of 24±0.4 kg, were divided into three groups (n=10 lambs per group) in a completely randomized design experiment. The diets were composed of 80% compound feed containing 11, 14 or 17% CP and 20% vetch straw. Lambs were fed ad libitium twice each day during the feeding trial period of 60 days. In the last week of the feeding period, all feces were collected to determine digestibility. The rumen and blood samples were collected at the end of the feeding period. The average feed intake was similiar among all tested diets. The best feed conversion rate was recorded the 17% CP diet. Final live weight and average daily gain (ADG) of lambs were significantly higher in lambs fed the 17% CP diet (P<0.05). CP digestibility was highest in the 17% CP diet (P<0.05) but the dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility were not affected by protein level. The rumen fluid NH3-N level increased significantly (P<0.05), pH and butyric acid level were not significantly affected, ruminal acetic acid and acetate:propionate ratio increased significantly (P<0.05) and propionic acid level decreased significantly (P<0.05) with the increase in dietary CP level. No significant differences were observed between groups for serum glucose and albumin, while the serum urea levels in the 14% and 17% CP groups were higher than for 11% CP (P<0.05). The highest economic value was for the 17% CP at 187.97%. Bafra lambs fed a diet containing 17% CP and vetch straw achieved a significantly higher body weight, had the best FCR and yielded a higher net profit than the other groups. If larger scale, on-farm studies confirm the findings of this study, Bafra lamb producers should be encouraged to maximise potential net profit by adopting its feeding regime, including 17% CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study were to determine effects of fattening systems on fattening performance (n=39) and slaughter and carcass characteristics (n=24) in male Tuj lambs. Three different fattening groups were formed as extensive (n=13), semi-intensive (n=13) and intensive (n=13). Lambs in the extensive group were grazed in pasture. In addition to pasture, concentrated feed was given to lambs in the semi-intensive group. High quality fodder and concentrated feed were given to those in the intensive group. The study was completed in 90 d. Final live weights of extensive, semi-intensive and intensive groups were 31.19, 41.22, and 40.56 kg (P<0.001), respectively, and for daily live weight gain were (DLWG) 117.52, 229.66, and 221.11 g (P<0.001), respectively. Feed conversion rates (FCR) were 3.05 and 5.16 respectively in the semi-intensive and intensive fattening. It was found that hot carcass weight was 13.41, 19.51, and 19.89 kg (P<0.001) in extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive fattening groups respectively. Hot carcass yield was 43.11, 46.95, and 49.77% (P<0.001) in extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive fattening groups respectively. Consequently; leg, foreleg, shoulder, neck, flank, and kidney percentages, and spleen and full stomach weights of lambs in the extensive group were higher than in semi-extensive and entensive groups. Although there was no statistical difference between semi-extensive and entensive groups in respect to fattening performance, slaugher weight, hot and cold carcass weights, entensive group was higher than the other groups in respect to hot and cold carcass yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to determine effects of chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) addition to quail diets on growth, carcass traits, liver and intestinal histology, and intestinal microflora. Two hundred forty Japanese quail chicks were distributed among three treatments groups! with four replicates. A group was fed with a basal starter diet for 1-21th and a grower diet for 22-42th days (Control).The experimental groups were fed the same diets, in addition to 75 mg/kg (Trial I) or 150 mg/kg (Trial II) of COS. The final live weights of the quails in the Control and Trial I groups were higher than in the Trial II group. There were no differences among the groups in gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and carcass traits. Steatosis in the Trial II group was less than in the Control and Trial I groups. Crypt depth and villus length were higher in the Trial II group than in the other groups. The number of bacteria and yeast in the intestine were lower in the Trial I and II groups than in the Control group. In conclusion, the addition of 75 mg/kg of COS had no adverse effect on the tested parameters, and it increased the crypt depth, villus length, and beneficially on intestinal microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine effects of black cumin seeds or black cumin oil addition to quail rations on growth performance, carcass traits and some blood parameters. Totally 180 daily Japanese quail chicks were used. Chicks allocated four main groups each containing 45 chicks, and each main group divided into three subgroups each containing 15 chicks. A group was fed with basal starter diet for 1 -21th days and grower diet for 22-35th days (Control). Other groups were fed same diets but their diet added by 0.1% oxytetracycline (Positive control: PC), 1% black cumin seed (BCS) or 0.1% black cumin oil (BCO). At last of study 15 chicks from each main group were slaughtered for determination of carcass traits and blood serum parameters. Final average live weight of quails in PC and BCS groups were significantly higher than C group. There were no differences on live weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio among the groups on basis of whole study period. Carcass weight was lower in C group than the other groups, while there were no differences on carcass yield, leg, breast and wing ratio among the groups. Serum cholesterol concentration in BCO group was significantly lower than C group but there were no differences on Ca, P, VLDL, HDL, LDL, ALT, ALP, albumin, globulin, total protein concentrations among the groups. In conclusion, it was established that, as being in antibiotic added groups, addition of 1% black cumin seed to quail diet enhanced live weight, and 0.1 % black cumin oil had showed hypocholesterolemic affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of live yeast culture and the live yeast culture enriched with vitamin-mineral supplementation as a feed additive on fattening performance, some blood and rumen fluid parameters in male kids. Totally 18 male Saanen goat kids (average 8 weeks old) were divided into one control and two treatment groups each containing 6 kids. Rations were prepared as isonitrojenic and isocaloric. Live yeast culture (LYC) and the yeast-vitamin-mineral complex (YVM) (RumiSacc® and Intetotal® respectively, Integra food Industry and Trade Co., Istanbul, Turkey, Live yeast cell 344 × 1010 cfu/g,) were incorporated into concentrates at the level of 0% (C), 1% (YC) and 1% (YVM) on as-fed basis. During the study concentrate feed and fresh water were given ad libitum and the ration did not contain any roughages. Dietary yeast culture at the level of 1 % increased final live weight (4.7% regarding control group) as numerically but not significantly. The fattening performance, rumen fluid and blood parameters were not statistically affected from the dietary treatments throughout the study. While the dorsal papillae length was not changed, ventral papillae length was decreased in the treatment groups. The length of papillae in YVM groups were similar to that of control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine effect of different fattening systems on fattening performance and body measurements of Hemsin male lambs. The materials of the study were consisted 39 male lambs weaned at 3 months of age (approximately live weight of 23 kg). In this study, Hemsin lambs were used in three group of extensive (n=13), semi-intensive (n=13) and intensive (n=13). The experiment was conducted for 90 days. Final live weights of groups of extensive, semi-intensive and intensive were 33.32, 41.16 and 42.09 kg, respectively, and for daily live weight gain (DLWG) were 121.11, 201.89 and 213.00 g, respectively. For semi-intensive and intensive of group, feed conversion ratios were 3.44 and 5.35 kg, respectively. As a result, intensive and semi-intensive groups of fattening performance were higher than that of extensive group. The differences among intensive and semi-intensive groups of fattening performance were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The results of this study suggest that semi-intensive group might be appropriate for fattening male Hemsin lambs. Hemsin lambs had a generally similar or lower fattening performance compared to local sheep breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of width and depth of bell drinker and sex on fattening performance and carcass characteristics of Pekin ducks. A total of sixty male and sixty female ducklings (Star 53 H.Y., Grimaud Freres) were used. Each sex group was randomly allocated into two bell drinker groups (narrow bell drinker with 47 mm water depth and 48 mm water width and wide bell drinker with 78 mm water depth and 90 mm water width) each of 30 ducklings. Groups were located in floor pens of 170 x 94 cm width x length, each of 6 chicks, in a naturally ventilated house. Sex affected the hatching weight (P<0.01), total body weight gain (P<0.001), feed intake (d 22 to 42 and d 1 to 42, P<0.05), feed conversion ratio (d 1 to 21, P<0.05), slaughter weight (P<0.001) and percentages of hot carcass (P<0.05). Wide bell drinker increased the body weight gain (d 22 to 42 and d 1 to 42, P<0.001), feed efficiency (d 22 to 42 and d 1 to 42, P<0.01), slaughter weight (P<0.001) and percentages of breast and wings (P<0.01), however decreased the percentages of skin subcutaneous fat (P<0.01). More width and depth bell drinker was positively contributed to the fattening performance in rearing of Pekin ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in order to examine the effect of vegetation period on the qualilty of pasture and fattening performance of grazing (May 22 to October 9) Tujhin sheep and lambs reared in Kars region. Animals were weighed and forage samples were taken from pasture fortnightly and analysed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF) and ether extract (EE). Chemical composition of pasture samples for DM, OM, CP, CF and EE were determined as 28.31%, 91.14%, 19.35%, 28.92% and 3.20% at the beginning of the study and 74.96%, 92.08%, 3.86%, 43.91% and 1.83% of the end of study, respectively. Daily and total live weight gains through the pasture season were determined for male and female lambs as 181.6 g/day, 164.9 g/day and 25.47, 23.10 kg respectively (P>0.05). Ewes gained 35 g/day daily live weight on average and 4.9 kg total live weight. In conclusion, it was determined that the pasture may meet greatly the nutritional requirements of the sheep and lambs when its green seasons (May 22 to July 31) and the CP content decreased and the DM and CF contents of forage by increasing maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate fattening performance, slaughter traits and some blood parameters of native Turkish geese feeding by semi-intensive system. Fifty, 3-4 day old unsexed native gosling were used in this study. Goslings were fed totally 11 weeks (starter diet for first 4 week, grower diet for 7 weeks). Beginning from the start of the third week goslings were grazed at 08:00- 10:00 and 15:00-17:00. At the end of the study 5 geese were slaughtered and slaughter traits were determined. Average live weight, live weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency were found 2908 g, 33.0 g, 144.4 g and 5.5, respectively. Carcass, wing, leg, breast, mesenteriyal and abdominal fat ratio were found 63.35, 10.82, 14.31, 21.61, 1.19 and 1.66%, respectively. Serum cholesterol, total protein, albumin and glucose amount were found to be 123 mg/dL, 3.51 g/dL, 1.35 g/dL and 184 mg/dL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of substituting barley with wet sugar beet pulp silage at differing levels on fattening performance, carcass quality and cost. To achieve this objective, a barley based diet (control diet) was prepared. Then, three diets were prepared by substituting 35% (35% WSBPS diet), 70 (70% WSBPS diet) and 100% of barley energy with wet pulp silage (100% WSBPS diet). A total of 48, 6-7 month old, male, Akkaraman lambs were utilized in the study. Lambs were randomly allotted into one of four groups based on initial body weights. Each group was also divided into 4 subgroups with 3 lambs within each subgroup and fed with one of four diets for a period of 75 days. Daily feed intake of each subgroup was determined weekly. All of the lambs were weighed bi-weekly to determine weight gains. Six lambs from each treatment group were slaughtered at the end of the experiment to determine carcass quality. Costs of each kg of diet DM and 1 kg of live weight gain for each diet were calculated. Initial live body weights of lambs fed different diets were similar, ranging from 23.48 to 25.03 kg (P>0.05). Overall daily weight gains of lambs fed different diet were also similar throughout the experiment and were 0.160, 0.182, 0.182, and 0.160 kg for control, 35%, 70% and 100% WPS diets, respectively (P>0.05). Hot and cold carcass weights, carcass tight, leg and loin weights were not statistically different among groups (P>0.05), but back weights were greater in sheep fed 75% WSP diet compared with control (P<0.05). Addition of WSBP silage into diets decreased both costs of diets and 1 kg live weight gain in a linear way. It can be concluded that energy provided by barley can be substituted with energy of WSP silage up to 70% without affecting fattening performance, carcass features and can greatly reduce production cost in lambs based on the results of the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]