This study aimed to investigate the body weight and some body measurements in Central Anatolian Merino sheep regarding ages and to carry out a comparative analysis between them. The study included a total of 60 animals aged 2, 3 and 4 years. The sheep were fed daily with hay, vetch, alfalfa and limited amount of concentrated feed (400 g head-1) until the pasture period, and pasture grass and mixed grass-clover hay during the pasture period. The live weights of the sheep of different ages in the farms were measured with a digital scale, and some body size were measured using a measuring tape and a measuring stick. When the live weight and chest circumference values of the 4-year-old sheep were compared with the data obtained in the other age groups (2 and 3 years old), and it was statistically significant, chest width and rump height values were found to be similar to those in the 3-age group. There were significant correlations between live weight and chest circumference, between withers height and rump height and significant correlations between live weight and chest width, body length with rump height, chest width with chest depth. In addition, significant correlations were found between live weight and chest depth, and between withers height, body length, and chest depth. Present findings revealed that the Central Anatolian Merino sheep can be beneficial in the development of meat-type sheep breeding.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of production system, slaughter age, and gender on the nutrient composition, fatty acids profile, and index values of breast and thigh meat in Alectoris chukar partridges. Partridges were slaughtered at 14, 16, and 18 weeks of age and skinless breast and thigh meat of male and female were used in the study (a total of 96 samples in 2 replicates). The production system affected only the crude fat level of the thigh meat in terms of nutrient composition and it was found higher in the intensive system compared to the free-range system. Age and gender did not significantly affect the composition of breast and thigh meat. In terms of fatty acid profile, erucic acid (C22:1n9) level in breast meat was higher in intensive system, while it was higher in thigh meat in free-range. While the percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3) increased with age in breast meat, it decreased in thigh meat with age. While eicosenoic acid (C20:1) percentage was higher in breast meat of male birds compared to females, only stearic acid (C18:0) was found to be higher in thigh meat. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), linolenic acid (n3), thrombogenic index (TI) and atherogenic index (AI) values were higher in thigh meat produced in free-range system, while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), linoleic acid (n6) and hypocholesterolaemic / hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H) were significantly higher in intensive system. While SFA and TI levels in thigh meat decreased with age, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), UFA and oleic acid (n9) percentages increased. MUFA / SFA in thigh meat of females was higher than males, other indexes were found insignificant. The results shows that partridges had desirable fatty acid composition. Especially, the increase in MUFA and UFA values with age in thigh meat compared to breast indicates that thigh meat is enriched in terms of unsaturated fatty acids. However, the higher SFA and AI values obtained in the free-range system could be considered a negative outcome for alternative production systems that prioritize bird welfare and consumer demands.

In this study, the Brown Layer Pure Line that housing as individual cage system at the Poultry Research Institute in Ankara was used. Eggs obtained from 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks old eggs were collected 3 times a day in the morning (10:00), noon (12:00) and evening (15:00). On a total of 427 eggs; Shape Index (SI), Egg weight (YA, g), Albumen height (AY, mm), Roche scale (RS), Haugh unit (HB), Egg Quality Classes (YKS), Shell strength (KM, N) and Shell thickness (KK, Micron) features are emphasized and colour parameters (L*, a*, b*, Hue, Ch and ΔE) of egg shell were determined. The effect of oviposition time was found significant on the Shape index, Egg weight (g), Haugh unit and Shell thickness (micron) values. However, Albumen height (mm), Egg Quality, Roche scale and Shell strength (N) were not affected by oviposition time. Among the egg shell colour parameters, a*, b*, Hue and Chrome values were affected by the oviposition time, and the calculated difference was found to be statistically significant.

Unio tigridis has an importance for the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystem of the Turkey. However, there is no available literature in the world on the growth of this species yet. The aim of this study, therefore, was to describe the age, growth and mortality of this species living in Lake Gölbaşı from Hatay providence, Turkey. A total 428 of specimen were collected using by divers with hand dredges in depth of 1 to 6 meters based on annual sampling strategy from June- 2004 to May- 2005. Lengths and weighs of sample were ranged as 2.1 to 9.2 cm (6.79 ± 1.52) and 1.1 to 73.05 g (34.18 ± 15.56), respectively. Weight-Length relationship of all specimens was described as W=0.193L2.63 (R2=0.94). Thus, a negative allometric growth was detected in the sampled population. The age of each individual was determined by counting the external shall annuli-growth interruption lines. The sampled population was composed of 18 age classes. Specimen belong to age class 7 was the most presented with 20.33 percent in the population. The rate of male to female (m:f) was 0.91:1. Seasonalized von Bertalanffy growth model (SVBGM) was used to describe the growth. From these results, it was shown that seasonality in growth does not occur in this lake for this species (L∞ = 8.80 cm (Shell Length), K = 0.271 year-1, t0 = -0.161 year, C = 0.014, ts = 0.100 year with RSS = 23.22). The total mortality rate (Z ± Se) was calculated as 0.401 ± 0.015 year-1 with R-square = 0.99 (CL of Z with 95 % = 0.361 - 0.440 year-1). Although, there is no fishing, no pollution and no predation risk on this species yet, due to growth characteristic, high K and low L∞, this type of species are vulnerable to extinction.

Pheasant rearing is rated in three main categories: show and hobby, public interest, and stocking for game birds and edible purposes. The goal of this pheasant breeding station is to put stocking for game birds in their natural habitat, mainly in the Karadeniz region. Contribution to the issues related to incubation in this station and determination of effective reproduction age by setting production period. The aim of this study is to determine how significant performance criteria like egg production, fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality are, depending on age and on seasonal changes. Our research has been carried out at the Gelemen Pheasant Breeding Station in Samsun. The pheasant breeds that are used on the farm are made up of 114 male and 800 female pheasants (1♂:7♀), of Hungarian and Caucasian genotypes. During the egg-laying period, which lasts for 16 weeks from the end of March (at the age of 45 weeks) to the middle of July (at the age of 60 weeks), egg production was recorded daily and evaluated once a week, and incubation yield was recorded nine times in total. Differences between weeks of age, in terms of egg production, egg and chick weights, fertility rate, incubation yield and embryonic mortality, have been found to be statistically significant. However, hatchability has been found to be statistically insignificant.

While the size of the preovulatory follicle is a crucial marker of reproductive potential in mares, its connection to reproductive parameters, especially in Arabian mares, remains uncertain. This study examined the association between preovulatory follicle size and various reproductive parameters in 301 Arabian mares, monitored ultrasonographically over four years and 563 estrous cycles. The mares were categorized into four age groups: 3–8, 9–13, 14–17, and 18 years and older. The preovulatory follicle diameter across consecutive cycles and the size of follicles leading to pregnancy post-ovulation were analyzed in relation to the ovulation side, age, parity, ovulatory cycle, and parous state. The mean preovulatory follicle size was 46.3±4.34 mm (range: 39–60 mm), with no significant difference between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy cycles (p=0.490). Parity was not correlated with overall follicle size (r=-0.013, p=0.757) or follicle size during the pregnancy cycles (r=-0.060, p=0.303). However, preovulatory follicle diameter varied significantly across ovulatory cycles (p=0.040), with the second cycle having the smallest mean follicle size (45.45±0.35 mm) compared to the first (46.5±0.23 mm) and third (46.95±0.53 mm) cycles. Additionally, parous mares had significantly larger follicles (46.40±0.19 mm) than maiden mares (45.25±0.57 mm, p=0.050), while age group (p=0.796) and ovulation side (p=0.558) had no significant effect on follicle size. Follicle size remained consistent between pregnancy and non-pregnancy cycles across different age groups, consecutive cycles, parity states, and ovulation sides. These findings suggest that although follicle size varies across ovulatory cycles and parous states, it does not significantly affect pregnancy outcomes in Arabian mares. This insight could help refine breeding strategies by emphasizing the role of factors other than follicle size in optimizing reproductive success.

This study evaluated the correlation between scrotal circumference (SC), body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) in relation to breeding age in West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. A total of 320 WAD bucks from birth to 15 months of age from various farms in Ibadan, Nigeria, were studied. They were grouped as A-birth to 3, B-4 to 7, C-8 to 11 and D-12 to 15 months old respectively, comprising of 80 bucks per group. Semen was collected from 10 randomly selected bucks in each group and analysed. Results showed positive correlation between SC and age; SC increased with age; and at about 8 months of age and over, a consistent SC of 17 cm–18 cm was observed. BW also increased with age; BW significantly affected SC. Also, at 8 months of age and over, SC of 17 cm-18 cm was observed from 9 kg BW and above. However, the correlation between SC and BCS was low and not significant. Semen analysis revealed the best semen quality for groups C and D bucks. In conclusion, we suggest that WAD bucks of 8 months and above, with at least SC between 17 cm–18 cm and of over 9 kg BW, could be used to breed does successfully on the farm.

This study aimed to investigate the body weight and some body measurements in Central Anatolian Merino sheep regarding ages and to carry out a comparative analysis between them. The study included a total of 60 animals aged 2, 3 and 4 years. The sheep were fed daily with hay, vetch, alfalfa and limited amount of concentrated feed (400 g head-1) until the pasture period, and pasture grass and mixed grass-clover hay during the pasture period. The live weights of the sheep of different ages in the farms were measured with a digital scale, and some body size were measured using a measuring tape and a measuring stick. When the live weight and chest circumference values of the 4-year-old sheep were compared with the data obtained in the other age groups (2 and 3 years old), and it was statistically significant, chest width and rump height values were found to be similar to those in the 3-age group. There were significant correlations between live weight and chest circumference, between withers height and rump height and significant correlations between live weight and chest width, body length with rump height, chest width with chest depth. In addition, significant correlations were found between live weight and chest depth, and between withers height, body length, and chest depth. Present findings revealed that the Central Anatolian Merino sheep can be beneficial in the development of meat-type sheep breeding.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of production system, slaughter age, and gender on the nutrient composition, fatty acids profile, and index values of breast and thigh meat in Alectoris chukar partridges. Partridges were slaughtered at 14, 16, and 18 weeks of age and skinless breast and thigh meat of male and female were used in the study (a total of 96 samples in 2 replicates). The production system affected only the crude fat level of the thigh meat in terms of nutrient composition and it was found higher in the intensive system compared to the free-range system. Age and gender did not significantly affect the composition of breast and thigh meat. In terms of fatty acid profile, erucic acid (C22:1n9) level in breast meat was higher in intensive system, while it was higher in thigh meat in free-range. While the percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3) increased with age in breast meat, it decreased in thigh meat with age. While eicosenoic acid (C20:1) percentage was higher in breast meat of male birds compared to females, only stearic acid (C18:0) was found to be higher in thigh meat. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), linolenic acid (n3), thrombogenic index (TI) and atherogenic index (AI) values were higher in thigh meat produced in free-range system, while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), linoleic acid (n6) and hypocholesterolaemic / hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H) were significantly higher in intensive system. While SFA and TI levels in thigh meat decreased with age, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), UFA and oleic acid (n9) percentages increased. MUFA / SFA in thigh meat of females was higher than males, other indexes were found insignificant. The results shows that partridges had desirable fatty acid composition. Especially, the increase in MUFA and UFA values with age in thigh meat compared to breast indicates that thigh meat is enriched in terms of unsaturated fatty acids. However, the higher SFA and AI values obtained in the free-range system could be considered a negative outcome for alternative production systems that prioritize bird welfare and consumer demands.