Agriculture is an important sector in Turkey’s economy. Access to credit financing is critical for timely acquisition of different inputs, farm productivity, and ultimately farmers’ financial well-being. Historically, Ziraat Bank and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, supported by Turkish government, have been the principle supplier of loanable funds in the agricultural sector. However, since 2000, many private banks have discovered the potential of this market and entered the competition. This study was designed to investigate the structure of the agricultural credit market in Turkey and identify factors that influence farmers’ preference among alternative lenders. It was found that although the 550 Turkish farmers surveyed had several options among lenders, low interest rates and attainable eligibility criteria emerged as the most important differentiators among banks. Results from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) demonstrate the rising role of private banks’ credit. However, Ziraat Banks’ subsidized credits still dominant and its composite weight is 30.74% of total amount of agricultural credit market.

The study performed the metal bioaccumulations in seven plant species from Giresun city. A total 140 specimens were collected from two stations (Station A; 40° 48’ N, 38° 19’ E, Station B; 50° 54’ N, 38° 26’ E) from March 2012 to September 2012. Plant samples were dissected, homogenized and dried at 105°C for 24 hours. An approximately 0.25 g sample of each plant leaf was digested with Cem Mars 5 microwave oven. After cooling, the residue was transferred to 50 ml volumetric flasks and diluted to level with deionized water. Before analysis, the samples were filtered through a 0.45 µm filter. All samples were analyzed (as mg kg-1 dry weight) three times for cobalt chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc by ICP-MS. A logarithmic transformation was done on the data to improve normality. One way ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range tests were performed to test the differences among metal levels of species. Concentrations of metals in the examined species ranged from 0.05 to 1.80 for cobalt, 0.14 to 3.24 for chromium, 2.33 to 28.1 for copper, 38.9 to 533 for iron, 1.81 to 64.6 for manganese, 0.81 to 18.9 for nickel, 0.32 to 6.22 for lead and 14.3 to 536 for zinc, in mg kg-1 respectively. Iron had the highest concentrations in all examined plant species in both stations except Zn for Sambucus ebulus in Station B. Second highest metal was zinc after iron. On the other hand, cobalt had lowest levels than other metals. The differences among metal levels in plant species were statistically significant. Maximum Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes (PTWI) in edible plant species were calculated.

In this work, chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Galium incanum, Galium dieckii ve Galium aladaghense were firstly reported. The essential oils were obtained from the all parts of the plant by hydrodistillation and analyzed by using GC-MS. Antimicrobial activity of synthezied essential oils was carried out against 5 pathogen bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (P. syringae) DC300, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhmurium (S. typhmurium) SL 1344 and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) ATCC 25175. According to the results, it was determined that isolated essential oils comprised of 61 compounds. Compounds of essential oils included that structure monoterpene (8.2%), monoterpenoid (14.75%) and sesquiterpene (14.75%). Unclassified compounds have been identified as other compounds. From the antimicrobial activity was observed that the isolated essential oil from Galium incanum, Galium dieckii ve Galium aladaghense exhibited a potent inhibitory effect against all gram negative and gram positive bacteria with diameter of inhibition zones ranging from 4.3 to 12.3 mm. Essential oil of Galium aladaghense indicated that high antimicrobial activity on all bacteria than Galium incanum and Galium dieckii.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of electrical stunning including different currents (AC/pDC) and waves types (square, triangle and chirp) applied to unconscious to broiler chickens before slaughtering on carcass defects and breast meat quality characteristics. In this study were used 39-d-old (Ross 308) broiler chickens, from the same flock raised commercially under similar environmental and mean weight 2350 g. Six treatment groups were set up with 10 birds (5♀:5♂) each. A total of 60 broiler chickens were stunned with electricity at water bath for 5 s using AC and pDC currents at 200 Hz frequency and 120 mA/bird. After slaughtering, the amount of blood loss, vein hemorrhages in the carcasses, spot stains and fractures in the wing bones were detected in the chicks. In addition, pH and color values and water loss of breast meat were also examined. Electric current application did not cause any significant carcass defect in chickens. It was determined that triangular and chirp wave types caused more blood loss than square wave in chickens. The lowest water loss in breast meat was realized in the chirp wave type while pH15 value in the breast meat of chicks applied AC was found higher. It was determined that triangular and square waves in water baths and chirp wave type in individual applications were resulted in having more positive effects on the properties investigated.

Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli is still an important public issue which causes extremely dangerous health problems. This study was planned in order to examine the inhibitory effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging application on E. coli O157 and O157: H7. The purposes of the present study were to detect E. coli O157 and O157: H7 strains from ground and cubed beef. A total of 100 MAP cattle meat products (50 minced meat, 50 meat cubes) were collected from the markets and butchers in Samsun province between May and October 2013. According to results, 1(1/50-2%) E. coli O157 and 1(1/50-2%) E. coli O157: H7 strains isolated from 50 ground beef samples, while 1 (1/50-2%) E. coli O157 strain was identified from 50 cubed beef samples. It was determined that E. coli O157 isolate obtained from the MAP ground beef carried stx1, stx2 genes; E. coli O157: H7 isolate carried stx1, stx2, eaeA and hylA genes while E. coli O157 isolate obtained from the MAP cubed meat only carried the stx2 gene. In antibiogram test, both E. coli O157 isolates were resistant to streptomycin and one E. coli O157: H7 isolate was resistant to streptomycin, cephalothin and tetracycline. As a consequence; in order to protect public health, products should be kept in proper hygienic and technical conditions during sale and storage and use of uncontrolled antibiotics should be avoided.

The influence of farming type (conventional or organic) and production system (low-and high-input) on various quality characteristics of milk have been in the focus of studies over the last decade. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of different dairy management and production systems on carbon stable isotopes ratio (δ13C) and milk urea content. The samples of raw milk were collected each two weeks at certified organic high-input and low-input farms, conventional high-input and low-input farms in late indoor period and outdoor period. Data analysis showed clear difference between milk from organic high- and low-input farms with non-overlapping range between -22.90 ‰ and -24.70‰ for δ13С in protein fraction (equal 1.80‰) and between -25.90‰ and -28.20‰ (equal 2.30‰) for δ13С in fat fraction independently from season factor, as for Δδ13С (protein-fat) values in milk from high-input (1.50-3.00‰) and low-input (3.20-6.30‰) organic farms. Analysis of correlation between δ13С in protein fraction and milk urea content values showed that during late indoor period the most significant difference was detected between milk from organic low-input and conventional high-input farms (5.85‰ for δ13С in protein fraction and 4.65 mg/100 g of milk urea content). During outdoor period, the non-overlapping range was established for low-input and high-input organic farms (3.40‰ for δ13С in protein fraction and 10.77 mg/100 g of milk urea content). Results of δ13С values in fat and protein milk fractions, as combination of δ13С in protein fraction and milk urea content could be a potential tool for the distinguish of milk from different farming types, based on different feed composition.

The aim of this study is to determine seasonally water quality characteristics irrigation ponds. Surface water samples were collected from three different sampling points in Yenice and Davutköy irrigation ponds (NW Turkey) for four different seasons. The parameters of dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, total hardness, chloride and sodium adsorption rate (SAR) were investigated for Yenice and Davutköy irrigation water quality. According the national and international water quality standards, physicochemical parameters were determined under permissible level. In addition, sampling ponds are located C1−S1 class of ABD salinity diagrams. This result means that salinity and sodium values of water are suitable for ecological system and can be using for irrigation. Furthermore, the microbial quality of irrigation water for the ponds were determined that rate of mesophyll and psychotropic bacteria are connected with temperature. It is detected that the term of low temperature is high level of psychotropic bacteria and the term of high temperature increase the number of mesophyll bacteria. Pearson correlation analysis between the results of the statistical psychotropic aerobic count and temperature significant was found a strong negative correlation (r= -0,635). Fecal pollution indicator as the number of E.coli stations in Davutköy pond in the summer sampling were determined 110 cfu/100ml and 50 cfu/100ml, respectively. E.coli was not detected other stations and sampling time. Finally, according to obtained analysis results are determined that water qualities for Yenice and Davutköy ponds are suitable for agriculture activities.

Araştırma serbest sistem yumurta tavukçuluğunda kullanılacak uygun tavuk materyalini belirlemek üzere yürütülmüştür. Bu amaçla yerli kahverengi yumurtacı Atak-S genotipi ile YB kodu verilen yabancı kahverengi ticari yumurtacı genotip verim ve yumurta özellikleri bakımından karşılaştırılmıştır. Araştırmada her bir genotipten 150’şer adet olmak üzere toplam 300 adet tavuk kullanılmıştır. Her genotip kendi arasında üç parsele ayrılmış ve her parselde 50 tavuk barındırılmıştır. Derin altlıklı yer sistemli kümes içerisinde birim alanda (m2) 5 tavuk yetiştirilirken, otlatma alanında ise tavuk başına 4 m2 alan ayrılmıştır. Aynı gün kuluçka çıkışı yapılmış olan yarkalar 16 haftalık yaşta özel bir firmadan temin edilmiştir. Araştırma 80 haftalık yaşa kadar sürdürülmüş olup bu süre zarfında verim ve yumurta kalite özellikleri tespit edilmiştir. Bu özelliklerden, %50 yumurta verim yaşı, yumurta ağırlığı, tavuk-gün yumurta verimi, tavuk-kümes yumurta verimi, yaşama gücü, ak indeksi, sarı indeksi, haugh birimi ve sarı rengi bakımından genotipler arasında farklılık bulunmamıştır. Buna karşın, 18-80. hafta canlı ağırlığı, yem tüketimi, yemden yararlanma oranı, şekil indeksi, kabuk kalınlığı, kabuk direnci, et-kan lekesi oranı ve kabuk rengi bakımından ise genotipler arasındaki farklılığın önemli olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Araştırmada, genotiplerden herhangi birisinin bütün özellikler bakımından öne çıkmadığı belirlenmiştir. Ancak, piyasa şartları dikkate alınarak yapılan ekonomik analiz sonuçları ve hayvan hassasiyetleri bakımından yapılan gözlemler neticesinde Atak-S genotipinin serbest sistem yumurta tavukçuluğuna daha uygun olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with different ecological niches are widely seen in fermented meat, vegetables, dairy products and cereals as well as in fermented beverages. Lactic acid bacteria are the most important group of bacteria in dairy industry due to their probiotic characteristics and fermentation agents as starter culture. In the taxonomy of the lactic acid bacteria; by means of rep-PCR, which is the analysis of repetitive sequences that are based on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence, it is possible to conduct structural microbial community analyses such as Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of DNA fragments of different sizes cut with enzymes, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymorphic DNA amplified randomly at low temperatures and Amplified Fragment-Length Polymorphism (AFLP)-PCR of cut genomic DNA. Besides, in the recent years, non-culture-based molecular methods such as Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), Thermal Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TGGE), and Fluorescence In-situ Hybridization (FISH) have replaced classical methods once used for the identification of LAB. Identification of lactic acid bacteria culture independent regardless of the method will be one of the most important methods used in the future pyrosequencing as a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques. This paper reviews molecular-method based studies conducted on the identification of LAB species in dairy products.

Investigate the changes that occur in the placenta tissues of pregnant rats that were administered acrylamide (AA) and vitamin E as a protective agent during pregnancy. Thirty rats that were proven positive for pregnancy with vaginal smear test were randomly distributed into control, corn oil, vitamin E, acrylamide and vitamin E + acrylamide groups. Pregnant rats were decapitated on the 20th day of the experiment. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant capacity (TOS) and Xanthine oxidase (XO) levels were measured in placenta tissues. It was determined that acrylamide application during pregnancy statistically significantly increased MDA, TOS and XO levels and reduced GSH and TAS levels in the placenta tissue of pregnant rats when compared to all other groups, and GAS and TAS levels statistically significantly increased in vitamin E administered group when compared to all other groups and TOS and XO levels were decreased to control group levels. It was observed that orally administered AA changed the antioxidant / oxidant equilibrium favoring the oxidants by increasing MDA, XO and TOS levels in pregnant rats and caused oxidative stress, while vitamin E administration returned the antioxidant / oxidant equilibrium back to normal levels, preventing oxidative stress induced toxicity.