The aim of this investigation was to determine appropriate perennial grasses and their most suitable mixture ratios, which can be grown with alfalfa in binary mixtures. The research was conducted during 2009-2011 in Isparta (37.50 °N, 30.32 °E), located in the Western Mediterranean climate conditions. In the study, alfalfa was planted as a binary mixture with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) in a randomized block design with three replications. Sowing ratios of alfalfa in the mixtures varied 20, 30, and 40%, and grass species ratios were 80, 70, and 60%. In the study, significant differences were found among the applications regarding hay yield, crude protein content, crude protein yield, NDF, ADF, land equivalent ratio (LER), and grass ratio in the hay (GR). The highest hay yield was obtained from alfalfa + orchardgrass and alfalfa + smooth bromegrass binary mixtures (25.98 and 25.78 t ha-1, respectively). Alfalfa + perennial ryegrass and alfalfa + meadow fescue mixtures gave the highest crude protein contents as 14.93 and 14.80%, respectively. The highest LER values were observed on perennial ryegrass and smooth bromegrass binary mixtures, and the highest grass ratios were determined in orchardgrass and smooth bromegrass mixtures made with alfalfa. Increasing the alfalfa sowing ratio in the mixtures positively affected all quality characteristics such as crude protein, NDF, and ADF. It was concluded that orchardgrass and smooth bromegrass binary mixtures with alfalfa produced high yield and quality hay and that the mixture should contain 40% alfalfa and 60% grass.

This study evaluated age-related changes in the gross morphology and morphometry of the testis and epididymis of the African Greater Cane Rat (AGCR). Twenty pathogen-free cane rats used for this study were randomly divided into 4 groups; Group I - prepubertal (≤4 months), Group II - pubertal (>4≤12 months), Group III - adult (>12≤30 months), and Group IV - aged (>30 months) of 5 animals each. On day 8th of acclimatization, testis and epididymis were harvested from sedated cane rat, described grossly and standard morphometric parameters (length, width, circumference, weight, and relative weight) determined. Gross morphological observations in the testes of all the different age categories showed similar characteristically cream to milky-white coloration and ellipsoidal shape. The epididymis in the different AGCR group uniquely presents the same inverted S-shaped outline, loose attachment to the testis, and less distinct division into caput, corpus, and cauda segments. Testicular and epididymal morphometric parameters were significantly reduced in the prepubertal cane rat relative to other groups. The parameters consistently displayed an age-dependent increment with the advancing age of the animal. In conclusion, this study has shown that both testicular and epididymal gross morphometrics increase with age advancement and perhaps might be linked to the varying functional reproductive status of the different age groups of the African greater cane rat.

The study investigated the potentials of date fruit as sweetening agent in bread and determined micronutrient composition, antioxidant properties and inhibition of diabetic related enzymes such as the alpha amylase and glucosidase. The fibre and ash contents of the samples increased with the addition of date fruit. The phosphorous, calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium contents of the bread sweetened with date fruit pulp were higher when compared to the bread samples that contained granulated sugar. Bread samples that contained date fruit exhibited greater DPPH radical scavenging activities, metal chelating activities, FRAP and possessed higher inhibition against α-amylase and glucosidase when compared with bead that contained granulated sugar. The results also showed greater antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities in the bread sweetened with dry date fruits that the wet date fruits. The sensory results showed that bread sweetened with granulated sugar and the date fruits were not significantly different from one another. The overall results showed date fruit has dual potentials in bread, as sweetener and as ingredient in enhancing nutritional qualities of bread.

Wheat is an important cereal product because of its nutritional value, economy, culture, and history. Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) assumed as the oldest wheat. Einkorn locally called “siyez” has recently become popular as a super grain with the thought of being very nutritious in Turkey. In this study, the contents of macrominerals (Na, Mg, Ca, and K) and microminerals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in twenty-one einkorn samples collected from different cultivation areas in Kastamonu were determined by using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry following microwave-assisted acid digestion. The results were compared with those analyzed in einkorn and other wheat types in the literature. Average concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cr and Cu analyzed in einkorn samples were found as 3712, 1303, 656, 53, 167, 34, 29, 0,7 and 0,6 mg kg-1, respectively. The literature comparison revealed that the investigated einkorn samples were richer in terms of Ca and Fe contents compared to einkorn, emmer, spelt, buckwheat, and durum wheat samples grown in our country and different countries.

The microscopic features of the testis were studied in gonadally inactive Khaki Campbell duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) in Bangladesh. The study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy & Histology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Five adult healthy birds of one-year-old were used for this study. The testes were collected immediately after ethical killing of the birds for histological observations. The collected tissue samples were then processed and stained with Hematoxylene & Eosin (H & E) stain for histological observations. The seminiferous tubules showed considerable involution with cessation of spermatogenesis. The basal lamina of the seminiferous tubules was irregular in outline and was invaginated into the germinal epithelium in the form of finger-like plicae or folds. Most of the lumen of the seminiferous tubules was empty and all generation of germ cells were not present in most of the seminifeous tubules. The interstitium showed a relative increase in volume and interstitial tissue consisted of loose connective tissue, interstitial cells (Leydig cells), few connective cells and blood vessels. This study first time described the microscopic features of testis of Khaki Campbell ducks in Bangladesh during inactive phases of the reproductive cycle.

The present study was planned to determine the effect of flock age on hatching results and chick quality in Ross 308 broiler parents. For this purpose, the eggs of three different flock age (30, 47, and 59 weeks of age) were used. A total of 450 eggs (50 × 3 for each group), including 150 eggs from each age group, were placed in the incubator as a coincidence. The number of alive chicks after hatching was determined and these chicks were classified into three quality groups as low quality, high quality, and discarded chicks. Non-hatched eggs were broken in order to control the fertility and determine the embryonic deaths. At the end of the study, the effect of the flock age on fertility rate (%), hatchability (%) and chick quality was found to be significant. However, the effect of flock age on hatchablity of fertile eggs and early, mid, and late-period embryo deaths were found to be insignificant. It was found that eggs obtained from the young breeders were higher in terms of fertility rate and hatchability than eggs obtained from old breeders. The chicks obtained from young breeders' eggs were determined as 33.60% high quality, 48.10% low quality, and 18.30% discarded chicks. These rates were 32.70%, 43.40%, and 23.90% in chicks obtained from middle-aged breeders, respectively, 56.10%, 36.40%, and 7.50% in chicks obtained from the old breeders. As a result, it was determined that there was a decrease in the hatching results in parallel with the increase in breeding age, but the chick quality increased.

In this study, it was aimed to determine some element contents and some quality properties and to compare these parameters at each stage in the chemically refining process of crude corn oil. Color (lovibond tintometer), free fatty acidity, peroxide values and fatty acid compositions were determined in the samples of corn oil taken from consecutive stages of chemically refining. Also, the content of elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Pb, Cd, Ni, Mn, Zn, Co, Cr, P, Cu) was analyzed, by using inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after microwave digestion. The color (Lovibond tintometer), free fatty acidity and peroxide values in the chemically refining process varied between 2.7-16, %0.09-2.12, 10.95-1.08 mEqO2/kg, respectively. Oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid contents changed between 30.486-30.580%, 54.339-54.703% and 0.972-0.993%, respectively, in the chemically refining stages. While no trans fatty acids detected in crude corn oil and after degumming-neutralization step, very low amount of trans oleic acid (0.040%) and total trans linoleic acid (0.132%) was detected in bleached corn oil. The total trans fatty acid content little more increased in the last stage of the chemically refining. However, total trans fatty acid content of refined corn oil was < 0.3%. It was clearly seen that Na, Mg, K, P, Ca, Mn, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu element contents decreased significantly at the end of the chemically refining process. Although Cd, Co and Zn elements were determined in crude corn oil, these elements were not detected in the refined corn oil. The results obtained showed that the chemically refining process effected some of the quality properties of corn oil and especially the changes in the element contents.

A field-based experiment was carried out in Rukum (East), Nepal, from February to June 2020, to assess the effect of different pre-sowing treatments on germination of Persian walnut. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments included hot water treatment, chilling stratification only, cracking + Gibberellic acid (500ppm) followed by chilling stratification, cracking + Gibberellic acid (750ppm) followed by chilling stratification, Gibberellic acid (500ppm) + chilling stratification and Gibberellic acid (750ppm) + chilling stratification. The minimum days for germination (15.75 days) and highest germination (53.25%) were obtained when the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 750 ppm along with chilling stratification was done. The maximum shoot length (34.83 cm) was observed in the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by stratification but statistically similar shoot length (34.63 cm) was observed when cracking, application of GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by stratification was done. Cracking, treatment with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by chilling stratification resulted in the highest shoot fresh weight (11.93 gm) and root fresh weight (10.77 gm) compared to the other treatments used. Thus, cracking along with treatment by GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by chilling stratification could be suggested to the walnut growers for better germination and a better morphological and physiological status of the rootstocks/seedlings.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the relationship between body weight (BW) and morphometric measurements of Ethiopian indigenous chicken populations and to develop prediction equations used to estimate BW from body measurements. A total of 621 chickens comprising 134 males and 487 females reared under smallholder management conditions were used for the study. Body weight and morphometric measurements including body length (BL), chest circumference (CC), shank length (SL), and shank circumference (SC) were taken using a hanging scale and a textile measuring tape, respectively. The relationship between BW and morphometric measurements was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) and stepwise multiple regression analyses. Descriptive statistics indicated that male birds were heavier than female birds. Correlation results revealed that body weight was significantly and strongly correlated with SL (r = 0.76) in both sexes, and moderately correlated with SC (r = 0.69), BL (r = 0.67), and CC (r = 0.52) in male birds, BL (r=0.68) and SC (r = 0.59) in female birds. Compared to other measurements, SL best predicted BW in both male and female birds, with coefficients of determination (R2) = 0.58. Combining SL with other body measurements (BL, CC, and SC) generally improved the predictive power of the equation. Thus, multiple regression equations that included a combination of the four linear body measurements are more suitable for predicting BW of Ethiopian indigenous chicken populations.