Search

The aim of this study was to characterise the genetic diversity, genetic relationship and population structure within local Turkish Denizli chicken subpopulations in rural areas using 19 microsatellite markers. To assess the uniqueness and relations of the Denizli subpopulations we used six local Italian chicken breeds’ samples, which were genotyped in the same laboratory with the same molecular markers. In total, 105 alleles were found across 19 microsatellite loci with a mean number of 5.53 alleles per locus. Considering all subpopulations and loci, genetic differentiation based on global FST was 0.030 (p

The current study aimed to compare the effects of the dietary supplementation of oleuropein (O) alone or with organic selenium (OSe) in combination with the dietary supplementation of α-tocopherol acetate alone (TA) or with OSe in combination on tonic immobility (TI) duration and fluctuating asymmetry in Japanese quails exposed to heat stress (HS) (34 °C). A total of 800 two-week old quails were kept in wire cages in a temperature-controlled room at either 22 °C (thermo-neutral, TN) or 34 °C (HS) for 8 h/d and fed on a basal diet (NC) or the diets supplemented with TA (TA200) or O (O200) at 200 mg/kg alone or with OSe (TA200 + OSe and O200 + OSe) to the NC diet. HS increased TI (p

The study aimed to investigate whether dietary supplementation of oleuropein (O) alone or with organic selenium (OSe) will show the similar effects as the dietary supplementation of α-tocopherol acetate (TA) on performance, blood Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio) and brain Hsp70 gene in Japanese quails reared under heat stress (34°C). A total of 800 Japanese quails were kept in wire cages in a temperature-controlled room at either 22°C (thermoneutral, TN) or 34°C (heat stress, HS) for 8 h/days and fed 5 different dietary treatments. Quails were fed on a basal diet (NC) or the diets supplemented with TA (TA200) or O (O200) at 200 mg/kg alone or with OSe (TA200+OSe and O200+OSe) to NC. HS decreased the final body weights (BWs) (PHsp70 gene expression (PHsp70 gene expression had positive effects. Consequently, the present study showed that supplementation of O alone or with OSe eliminated the deleterious effects of heat stress on growth performance, blood H/L ratio and brain Hsp70 gene expression of Japanese quails.

The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of oregano essential oil (OEO) on the morphological development of small intestine of broilers with different feeding times (immediate, 24, 48 or 72 h posthatching delayed feeding) from d 0 to 14. The diets were supplemented with: no, 250 or 500 mg/kg of the OEO (OEO250 and OEO500, respectively). Fasting for 72 h significantly increased the weight and length of small intestine segments of broilers on d 14. The OEO250 and OEO500 significantly increased the jejunum villus height of chickens fed immediately and the duodenum villus height of broilers fasted for 48 h. The duodenum villus surface area of chickens fasted for 48 h and the ileum villus surface area of broilers fasted for 24 h were significantly increased by the OEO250. The OEO500 significantly enhanced the duodenum villus surface area of broilers fasted for 24 h and their ileum villus surface area fasted for 48 h. The crypt depths of small intestine segments of broilers fasted for 72 h were significantly reduced by OEO250 and OEO500. In conclusion, the dose of phenolic compounds in OEO reaching the small intestine might be enough for protecting the intestinal epithelial cells from damages of toxins and for removing the negative effects of delayed feeding on the morphological development of all the small intestine segments of broiler chicks on d 14.

Increased global use of highly productive breeds of farm animals has been associated with loss of genetic diversity in most species, but especially in local poultry species. In Italy, especially in the Veneto region since 2000, various governmental, non-governmental and private organizations have tried to preserve the genetic diversity of poultry resources. This successful conservation effort has included various activities: improving knowledge of biological functions, conservation of typical morphological characteristics, development of selection strategies, control of inbreeding and, finally, valorization strategies to diffuse the breed in local productive systems. These activities provide a good example for developing countries, such as Turkey. With the aim of contributing to conservation activities relating to the poultry resources of Turkey, this study described the current status of local chicken breeds in Turkey and Italy, and also makes some recommendations for developing countries such as Turkey.