The current study aimed to evaluate Piliostigma thonningii seeds-derived essential oil (PTO) effect on hematological and reproductive parameters in rabbits. Three groups consisting of 15 animals each were randomly assigned and with an average initial body weight (BW) of 262.89 ± 22.36 g in a fully randomised experimental design. Group 1 received the control diet, while for groups 2 and 3 the basal control diet was supplemented with 2 mL PTO/kg diet and 4 mL PTO/kg diet, respectively. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and the blood was analysed using the ABACUS ROSS haematology analyser. The results indicated significant differences in rabbits receiving PTO supplemented feed, namely; Packed cell volume, red blood cells, white blood cells, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, neutrophil increased (P<0.05) with increasing level of PEO supplementation. Mean corpuscular volume and haemoglobin, lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet were higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 than in T1. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was higher (P<0.05) in T3 than T1 with T2 being intermediate (P>0.05) between T1 and T3. Semen volume, concentration and motility were higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 than in T1. While semen abnormalities and bucks’ reaction time to does (libido) were greater (P<0.05) in T1 than in T2 and T3, Live dead ratio was higher (P<0.05) in T3 relative to T1 while T2 was intermediate between T1 and T3 (P>0.05). semen color and pH were not affected (P>0.05) by treatments. It was therefore concluded that P. thonningii essential oil supplementation enhanced both haematological and fertility potential of the experimental rabbits.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the usability of different diluents and cry protectants in cryopreservation of Peking duck semen. Semen samples were collected from five male ducks, twice a week for four weeks, using the abdominal massage method. In the study, 40 semen samples were used. Semen samples from ducks were combined (mixed) after being evaluated individually. Mix semen volume (ml), density (×109 / mL), pH, motility (%) and vitality (%) values were determined as 1.84±0.04, 1.72±0.8, 6.88±0.29, 71.55±3.28 and 74.27±4.67 respectively. In the study, as cry protectant, Glucose I (GⅠ) containing 6%DMF (dimethylformamide), Tris-Glucose I (TI), Lactated Ringer's-Glucose I (LGI), Lactated Ringer's I (LI) and Glucose II (GⅠI) containing 5% DMSO, Tris-Glucose II (TII), Lactated Ringer's-Glucose II (LGII), Lactated Ringer's II (LII) were used as diluents. The mixed semen was divided into eight equal parts and 1:3 ratio diluent was added and equilibrated in straws for 90 minutes at + 4°C. The straws were first frozen to -80°C with liquid nitrogen vapour, and then stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. After freezing and thawing, the highest motility value was determined in diluent LGI with 41.91%. In other diluents used, the mortality values were determined as LII (33.10%), LGII (32.80%), LI (29.00%), GI (23.66%), TI (12.91%), GII (11.22%) and TII (6.90%). Vitality (%) values were determined as LGI (44.08%), LII (38.50%), LGII (35.10%), LI (33.58), GI (30.91%), GII (23.10%), TI (20.66%) and TII (14.80%) respectively. In this study, it has been determined that the lactated Ringer's-Glucose diluent containing 6% DMF is more advantageous in terms of semen vitality and mortality values when compared to other diluents and that it can be used for long-term storage of duck sperm.

This study was carried out to investigate the changes in semen characteristics, hormonal profile and testicular morphometry of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks treated with danazol. For this purpose, eighteen matured WAD bucks average of about two years were randomly divided into groups A, B and C comprising of six bucks per group. Group A was the control while B and C bucks were given danazol at a dose rate of 20mg/kg body weight orally daily for four weeks. The group B bucks’ testes were harvested thereafter for gross and histo-morphometric studies while those of group C were left intact but danazol treatment was withdrawn for four more weeks. The bucks’ semen samples (collected by electro-ejaculation) and hormonal samples (taken via the jugular vein) were analyzed. The semen characteristics studied included color, volume, mass activity, motility, percentage normal live-dead ratio, morphology and concentration; while the hormones studied included testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. Results show that there were significant decreases in semen characteristics of group B and C bucks compared with those of group A in the first four weeks. The semen characteristics of the group C bucks were reversed to normal range (similar to those of group A bucks) two weeks after danazol treatment was withdrawn. Similar results were observed with the hormonal studies. In conclusion, danazol caused a reversed reduction in sperm cells characteristics suggesting its possible use as a contraceptive in WAD goat bucks.

The study was conducted in a herd (n: 244) in which goats (n: 206) and sheep (n:38) had a history of brucellosis in Bursa which is located in Northwestern of Turkey between the years 2012-2014. For the detection of Brucella spp. and the other zoonotic bacterial agents, semen samples were taken from Saanen goats (n: 35) and rams (n: 8). Samples were tested by routine diagnostic procedures and PCR. The serum samples of male animals were also tested for Brucellosis by C-ELISA and I-ELISA. The culture results represented Trueperella pyogenes (n:2), Pasteurella pneumotopica (n: 5), Esherichia coli (n: 3), Aeromonas salmonicida subs. Salmonicida (1), Brevundimonas vesicularis (n: 2) and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium (n: 1) and Mycoplasma arginini (n: 1) from semen samples. Rams had no symptoms due to epididymitis or epididymoorchitis in clinical examination, but two bucks showed orchitis and they were serologically positive for brucellosis. Also, one seronegative buck showed epididymitis in a flock. There were no statistically significant differences between the serologically positive and negative animals in an examination of semen samples in terms of their volume, concentration, mass activity, motility and defectivity rate for acrosome. Although 20 of the serum samples were negative for anti-Brucella antibody, 23 of them were serologically positive for brucellosis. As a result of this study, Brucellae were not detected by bacteriologically and molecularly while there were some positive serum samples for brucellosis. This could be attributed that these samples might have been collected from chronically infected animals in which animals generally do not shed the organisms. Therefore, it was thought that sampling with regular intervals might help for the definitive incidence of brucellosis.