The purposes of this study were to determine the socio-economic characteristics of dairy farmers in Antalya, in Turkey, calculate the gross income, variable costs and gross margin of dairy farms, determine the probability distributions of consequences for alternative decisions to enable dairy farmers as decision makers to make a good and well-informed choice, to determine cross effects of milk prices variations on the productive strategy of dairy farms. The data were gathered via face to face interviews in Korkuteli, Dosemealtı, Elmalı, Manavgat and Serik counties of Antalya province in Turkey. The survey study was conducted with 80 farmers, who were member of Dairy Cow Breaders Union, in the 2011 production period. In this study, on the basis of previous experience, dairy farmers assigned minimum, maximum and most likely values of milk price and yield over the next period of 5 years. Then, triangular and cumulative distributions were defined by using these values. Moreover, Monte Carlo Stochastic Simulation model was developed to obtain distribution of expected gross margin per cow. The model and triangular and cumulative distributions were built in Excel with @Risk add-in software. The relationship of mean risk aversion coefficient, calculated by using negative exponential function, with both average gross margin and gross margin standard deviation values determined for each farm was examined. The results show that the relation between average gross margin and mean risk aversion coefficient was negative and significant at 5% level. But, although the relation between gross margin standard deviation and mean risk aversion coefficient was found to be negative, it was not significant at 5% level.

The study was carried out to estimate the temperature, light intensity, salinity, Dissolved O2 (DO), pH values and the biotic parameter chlorophyll- a in the water column related with the depth. Because, the physico-chemical parameters affect greatly both primary and secondary producers in marine life. For this purpose the physico-chemical properties were determined day and night for 40 meter depth during the eight days. The means were compared by using the analysis of variance method and Duncan’s Multiple Comparison Test. Also physico-chemical parameters were estimated by using the analysis of regression and correlation. The effect of temperature and salinity were found significant according to the result of the analysis of variance during the day. Also the similar results were found for the night. While the effect of the depth on the chloropyll-a a was significant in the night, the effect of the depth on the DO was not significant in the day and night. The correlations among the depth and the parameters were defined. It was found the negative correlation between the depth and the temperature and light intensity. Determination coefficient of the model for salinity was also found different for day time. The correlation values among the depth and the temperature, salinity and pH were found different for the night.

The aim of the study was to investigate the raw milk hygiene and quality among the small holder dairy farmers in Tawau area. A total of 216 samples were collected from the respective dairy farmers and milk collecting centre located at Mile 15, Tawau. Preliminary results indicated that the quality of the raw milks obtained at farm level contained were inferior with high bacteria load (> than 107 CFU/ml). The total coliform (2.9-3.8 CFU/mL) and Staphylococcus count (2.3-3.6 CFU/mL) were relatively high in certain samples. However, none of the food borne pathogens was found. Trace back study revealed that the causes of contamination were attributed by poor hygienic handling among the dairy farmers and insufficient for immediate chilling of raw milk. A significant reduction in bacteria load was observed if the raw milk chilled immediately at farm. The implementation of modified pre-milking sanitizing practices improved the microbiology quality of the raw milks obtained from respective dairy farms. Future study will focus more on the effect of prolong storage towards the microbiological quality of raw milk.

In this study was aimed to crossbred male kids of the Hair goat and Saanen x Hair kids (G1) body condition score and compare their body size intensive, semi-intensive and extensive conditions. In the research, 30 Hair goat and 30 Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred single male kids was used. When the research findings were evaluated, in terms of body condition scores of 30, 60 and 90th days high values in the semi-intensive were detected in fattening Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids. However, at the end of fattening in semi-intensive fattening group of Hair goat it is determined that the value of the highest condition score. This situation is thought to be caused by more growth of environment and width measurements in Hair goat kids in the later stages of fattening according to the Saanen x Hair goats (G1) crossbred. In study in terms of body length during whole fattening, in terms of the height at the withers data obtained from the 60th and 90th day was found statistically significant. At the end of the fattening in semi-intensive fattening group of Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred it was observed to have higher body length and height at the withers value of crossbred kids. When chest width measurements between paddles in kids were examined, in all periods seems to be an increase in Hair goat kids than the Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids. At the end of fattening in terms of height rump Hair goats has shown higher values than Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids but the highest values of the semi-intensive group has shown. As a result, semi-intensive feeding group of kids of body condition score and body size was higher than intensive and extensive fattening group kids, in terms of length and height measurements Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids in terms of width and environmental measures has shown higher values than Hair goat kids.

This study was designed in order to assess and evaluate the effect of hot iron branding on cattle hide quality. 62 shapes of hot iron branding were detected and classified. Branding damage was evaluated depending on: purpose of application, location in the animal body, branding area, tribe which applied and hide degree. The results showed that, Baggara tribes branding were causing the greater damage on cattle hides; where 71.4% of its brands placed in the abdominal and animal back area (middle of the hide); in proportion to Misseriya Zuraq tribes (68.4%). According to the location of branding, the less tribe that causing damages to the cattle hides were Darfur tribes (14.3%). In terms of branding area Darfur tribes were causing the most branding damages where 42.8% of its brands on cattle hides were between 20-30cm, followed by Baggara tribes where 57.1% of its brands were between 10-20cm then Misseriya Zuraq tribes by 52.6%, and finally North Kordofan tribes of 37.5%. grading of cattle hides depending on the presence of the brand marks the study revealed that, Misseriya Zuraq tribe's brands were obtained the highest percentage (89.4%) of the rejected hides (Scarto= 4 and 5 grades), when compared with North Kordofan tribes (87.5%). For commercial reason brand's were mostly done in the area of 5-10cm but, their effect on cattle hide quality was greater, where 81% of the hides were classified as Scarto.

In this study, selenium levels of P.citrinopileatus added different rates of red pepper waste to compost as a source of selenium were determined. For this purpose, six different compost groups were prepared and inoculated with P.citrinopileatus mycelia. Selenium levels of harvested mushrooms were analysed. In conclusion, 0.338 µg/g selenium were determined in one gram dry mushroom that red pepper waste added to compost at 5%. Mycelia growth and selenium accumulation were negatively affected by higher rates of red pepper waste.

The present research was conducted on macrofungi collected from Kop Mountain (Erzurum-Bayburt) between the years of 2010 and 2011. The colorful photographs of macrofungi in the natural habitat were taken and their morphological and ecological features were determined and the information on macrofungi given by local people was recorded. According to the field and laboratory studies; 44 edible macrofungi taxa belonging to 14 families and 5 ordos located in Pezizomycetes and Agaricomycetes classes were identified.

In this study, corn silage with different ratios of by adding olive pomace olive industry by-product under laboratory conditions was aimed to determine the effects on nutrient contents, fermentation characteristics and in vitro digestibility. Olive pomace used in the research, was added in 0% (control), 20 and 40 levels in corn silage and ensiling period continued during 56 days. At the end of the ensiling period, differences seen in terms of dry matter content, organic matter, crude fat, acit detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, in each level consisting of corn silage is added to olive pomace were found significant but the crude protein content of the olive pomace-added silages decreased. The highest crude fiber value was determined in the silages added with 40% olive pomace. Crude ash, lactic acid, acetic acid, pH and CO2 differences seen in terms of rates were not found significant. Propoionic acid wasn’t found in the groups to which olive pomace was added, while butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen weren’t observed in all silage groups in the study. At the same time, in vitro organic matter, dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility of silages increased in each level consisting of corn silage is added to olive pomace. As a result, it was considered result that olive pomace the oil industry by product can be a silo feed quality. In particular, the corns by adding 40% of the olive pomace made silage were obtained satisfactory results in terms of both physical and chemical properties.

Quality of plain set yoghurt was investigated by varying levels of ultrafiltration concentration of cow skim milk (1-without ultrafiltration, 1.5 and 2 folds) and inoculum (2, 2.5 and 3%) of yoghurt culture (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus 1:1). Titratable acidity development and pH reduction were significantly faster during incubation of yoghurt with increasing ultrafiltration concentration level and inoculum level. Increased ultrafiltration concentration level decreased spontaneous whey syneresis, but increased water holding capacity and firmness of the product significantly. Body & texture and overall acceptability scores were significantly better in yoghurts prepared from 1.5 fold concentrated milk irrespective of the inoculum level studied. Inoculum level did not show any significant effect on the quality of yoghurt, but higher inoculum level decreased the incubation period significantly. Optimized product was obtained with 1.5 fold concentrated skim milk standardized to 3.3% fat and incubated with 2% inoculum level in about five and a half hour of incubation. Optimized product had 13.60±0.02% total solids, 3.31±0.01% fat, 5.27±0.04% protein, 4.20±0.03% lactose and 0.82±0.02% ash. Whey syneresis, water holding capacity and firmness in optimized product were nil, 63.49% and 1.89 N, respectively. Thus, high quality plain yoghurt could be prepared by employing ultrafiltration, without addition of stabilizers, which is otherwise widely used commercially for the manufacture of yoghurt to control its wheying off and body.

The rheological properties of koumiss were investigated at different temperatures (4, 10, and 20°C). Experimental shear stress–shear rate data were fitted to different rheological models. The consistency of koumiss was predicted by using the power-law model since it described the consistency of koumiss best with highest regression coefficient and lowest errors (root mean square error and chi-square). Koumiss exhibited shear thinning behavior (n