The present study aims to evaluate the energy production potential from walnut (Juglans regia L.) residues, specifically pruning waste and shell biomass, in Kırşehir province, Türkiye. Data collected between 2019 and 2023 were analyzed to quantify the biomass availability and its corresponding energy potential across various districts in the region. The findings reveal that total biomass production from pruning residues increased from 1220.36 t in 2019 to 1322.69 t in 2023, resulting in an energy potential growth from 19,904.02 GJ to 21,573.11 GJ. A similar trend was observed in shell biomass, which rose from 483.11 t to 523.62 t, resulting in an energy potential increase from 9164.60 GJ to 9933.12 GJ. The Kaman district consistently dominated, accounting for over 55% of the total energy potential, while Boztepe and Çiçekdağı exhibited the lowest contributions. The total energy production potential from walnut residues in 2023 was estimated at 31,506.22 GJ (31.51 TJ), corresponding to an annual electricity generation capacity of approximately 8751.74 MWh. The study emphasizes the higher energy potential of pruning residues compared to shell biomass and highlights regional disparities in biomass availability, underscoring the need for targeted strategies to optimize resource utilization. The findings indicate that the utilization of walnut residues for bioenergy purposes has the potential to substantially mitigate fossil fuel dependency and to promote sustainable energy development in the region.

Anaplasmosis, a vector-borne haemoparasitic disease, poses a significant threat to animal health. This study investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of anaplasmosis in goats within the Chattogram district of Bangladesh. The research was conducted at the SA Quadery Teaching Veterinary Hospital (SAQTVH), Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), involving observations of 202 goats. Blood samples were collected from the ear veins of 44 goats. Thin blood smears were prepared, stained with Giemsa, and examined under a microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests in SPSS Statistics version 26. The study found that goat rearing systems significantly influenced infection rates (P < 0.05). Anaplasmosis was more prevalent in goats displaying pale mucous membranes and symptoms such as fever or weakness (P < 0.05). To mitigate the disease, strategic control measures, including vector reduction and routine health monitoring, are recommended.

Population growth has increased demand and diversified use of Irish potato which have increased its demand. The crop has become a major source of food and income for many households across the world. However, despite the high potential of about 30 tonnes per hectare (ha), smallholder farmers in Kenya realize low Irish potato yields ranging from 4-8 tonnes per ha due to limited uptake of agricultural technologies. The low yields calls for a profound understanding of the factors influencing the uptake agricultural technologies. The study analyzed the effects of the adoption of agricultural technologies on Irish potato yield in Ol Kalou Sub County. The study considered chemical fertilizer, certified seeds, fungicides, and farm machinery as the four main agricultural technologies that that affect yield. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to obtain data from a study population of 21,942 smallholder Irish potato farmers in Ol Kalou Sub County. A multiple-stage sampling technique was employed to generate a sample size of 385 respondents who provided primary data. Data collected was analyzed using endogenous switching regression model using STATA version 17. The study found that the average treatment effect on treated (ATT) was 10.21 bags per acre. In addition, the Endogenous switching regression model showed that the expected yield for the adopter increased by 51.83%. Out of the four technologies, the use of chemical fertilizers had the highest effect of 37% on yield. The study concluded that the adoption of agricultural technologies increases the yield of Irish potatoes. The study recommends that national and county governments should develop policy regulations such as training and extension services, market access, price support and public-private partnerships encouraging farmers to uptake agricultural technologies. The study also recommends that both levels of government should subsidize agricultural technologies, hence reducing the cost of adoption.

Tarımsal mekanizasyon, tarım alanlarını geliştirmek, her türlü tarımsal üretimi yapmak ve ürünlerin işlenmesini de gerçekleştirmek amacıyla kullanılan tüm enerji kaynağı, mekanik araç ve gerecin tasarımı, yapımı, geliştirilmesi, pazarlanması, yayım ve eğitimi, işletilmesi ve kullanılması konularını içermektedir (Zeren ve ark., 1995). Tarımsal mekanizasyon göstergeleri kullanılarak tarımsal mekanizasyon düzeyinin belirlenmesi, yörelerin ve ülkelerin tarımsal mekanizasyon seviyelerinin ortaya konmasında önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmada Kırşehir ili Çiçekdağı ilçesinin tarımsal mekanizasyon özellikleri incelenmiştir. Çalışmada, Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu’nun (TUİK) 2023 ve 2024 yıllarına ait verileri ile Çiçekdağı İlçe Tarım Müdürlüğü’nden elde edilen veriler materyal olarak kullanılmıştır. Bu kapsamda Çiçekdağı ilçesinin tarım alet ve makine sayıları (traktör sayısı, biçerdöver sayısı, birinci ve ikinci sınıf toprak işleme alet ve makine sayısı, ekim-dikim ve bakım makinesi sayısı, bitki koruma makinesi sayısı ve hasat-harman makinesi sayısı) da çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Mekanizasyon düzeyi; traktör, biçerdöver, tarım aletleri sayısı tespit edilmiş olup ve tarımsal mekanizasyon düzeyi göstergeleri; traktör/1000 ha, ha/traktör, kW/ ha ve ortalama traktör gücü (kW) olarak belirlenmiştir.Verilere göre, traktör sayısı 1000 hektar başına 35,97’den 38,74’e yükselmiş olup , traktör başına düşen arazi alanı ise 27,79 hektardan 25,81 hektara gerilemiştir. Traktör başına düşen güç 2,49 kW/ha’dan 2,68 kW/ha’ya artarken, ortalama traktör gücü 69 kW seviyesinde sabit kalmıştır.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between body defects, egg and chick quality and hatching results at different age periods of the laying period of partridges raised in production conditions (cage system). The study was based on three different periods. The first period is the pre-peak egg production period (˂200 eggs), the second period is the peak egg production period (˃200 eggs) and the third period is the post-peak egg production period (˂200 eggs). These periods also represent the age of the animals. As material, 432 female and 216 male partridges in their first egg production year were used. The study was organized according to the random plots experimental plan. There were changes in body defects and other health parameters depending on egg production periods. Foot-pad dermatitis and elbow burns increased with increasing age. Parent partridges had better head, neck, back, chest and tail feather condition before peak egg production. Egg weight increased with advancing age. Hatching egg characteristics such as excessively pointed eggs and eggs with calcium deposits decreased in the peak and post-peak yield period. Eggshell transparency increased with advancing age. Fertility was higher in the pre-peak egg yield period compared to other periods. Hatchability was lower after the peak period. Tona score of chicks decreased with age. There were weak negative and positive phenotypic correlations between many traits. Practices that prevent body injuries in the early egg production period and deteriorating feather condition with advancing age, decreasing shell opacity, deterioration in hatching performance and chick quality traits in partridges will be beneficial in terms of increasing both production performance and animal welfare.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of palm oil, African walnut oil and their blends on hematological, inflammatory, and some oxidative stress markers in high fat diet (HFD) obese-induced Wistar rats. Obesity was induced for 60 days and treated for 28 days using edible oils [palm oil, African walnut oil, palm oil: African walnut oil (50:50) and palm oil : African walnut oil (60:40)] and orlistat (10 mg/Kg). Thereafter the animals were sacrificed, blood was collected for hematological studies and the preparation of the serum, while the organs harvested were used to prepare organ homogenates. Serum and organ homogenates were used for the evaluation of inflammation and oxidative stress markers. Results showed that the oils utilized were confirmed to be of high quality through their good stability indices (peroxide value: 2.52-3.87meq O2/Kg; p-anisidine value: 8.24-12.33, TOTOX value: 13.37-19.46,). Looking at the haematological study, animals that received the HFD presented the lowest (p<0.05) hematocrit and Platelet. PO:WO (50:50 and 60:40) significantly (p<0.05) decreased the granulocytes concentration in the blood of rats. PO:WO (50:50) significantly (p<0.05) increased the lymphocyte concentration while 100% PO increased the mid-size white blood cells level in the animals. Serum levels of inflammation markers were higher (p<0.05) in the negative control group (354.44-385.82 pg/mL) compared to the other groups (147.22-271.55 pg/mL). The analysis of oxidative stress parameters revealed that the administered oils and orlistat generally exhibited good protections compared to the normal and negative control groups, which might be due to the presence of omega-3 fatty acids and bioactives such as β-carotene and vitamin E which have good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be concluded that these oils have a role in protecting against obesity through their effects on oxidative stress, hematology, and inflammatory cytokines.

In dairy farms, water is crucial for the health, productivity, and welfare of animals. Water is a fundamental component in all biological processes, and insufficient water intake can negatively impact milk production, reproductive health, and overall animal welfare. The water requirement for dairy cattle depends on various factors such as age, weight, milk yield, environmental temperature, and nutritional status. An adult dairy cow can consume approximately 80-150 liters of water per day. This requirement increases in high-yielding cows. Adequate water intake directly affects milk production, as approximately 87% of milk is composed of water. The quality of water is as crucial as its quantity. This study investigates the quality of drinking water in dairy farms within Niğde Province, Turkey, focusing on its implications for livestock health and productivity. Water samples were collected from 11 livestock enterprises, encompassing water tanks and troughs, and analyzed for electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrate (NO₃), nitrite (NO₂), and phosphate phosphorus (PO₄) concentrations. Results showed EC values averaging 0.803 dSm⁻¹, within acceptable standards for livestock, although high concentrations in certain tanks raised concerns regarding mineral content and potential health impacts. The pH ranged from 7.27 to 8.20, remaining suitable for all livestock classes. NO₃ concentrations averaged 21.834 mgL⁻¹, with no samples below the 10 mgL⁻¹ threshold, highlighting risks from prolonged exposure. In contrast, NO₂ concentrations averaged 0.251 mgL⁻¹, remaining within safe limits. PO₄ concentrations were minimal, averaging 0.056 mgL⁻¹, and posed no significant risks. The findings underscore the importance of periodic water quality monitoring in livestock farms to mitigate risks of contamination and ensure optimal health and productivity. These findings highlight the necessity for customized water management techniques to fit particular farm settings and advance our understanding of the complex effects of water quality on livestock performance.

Marketing information enhances farmer’s decision to increase production and productivity of agricultural commodities. This paper examines farmers’ perspectives on agricultural marketing information in developing countries, with a case study focusing on three districts in Tanzania. Data were obtained from a survey conducted on 291 maize farmers in the three districts namely Arusha (103 farmers), Njombe (100 farmers) and Kongwa (88 farmers), selected from three regions in Tanzania Mainland. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the percentage distributions of the farmers based on socio-economic characteristics and Likert scale ratings of the farmers’ levels of agreement with the debriefing questions constructed to evaluate their perceptions. The analysis of the socio-economic variables of the farmers suggests male dominance in maize farming, predominant youthful farming demographics, predominantly large household Size, and predominance of low-level educational backgrounds among maize farmers in the study areas. The results of the socio-economic characteristics underscore the importance of targeted policies to support maize farmers, focusing on education, youth engagement, and household resource management. The overall result of farmers’ perceptions of agricultural marketing information indicates a widespread agreement across districts highlighting the shared challenges and priorities among maize farmers in Tanzania, particularly indicating that farmers recognize the benefits of agricultural services and understand the importance of communication infrastructure for economic development. The study thus, recommends establishment of local marketing information centers to reduce costs and time associated with gathering market information, enhancement of digital literacy to train farmers, and collaboration with critical stakeholders; such as government, private sector, and non-profits organizations to fund and sustain marketing information infrastructure for farmers. Investments in communication and marketing infrastructure will bridge information gaps, enhance market access, and ultimately drive economic development among maize farmers. This structured approach will not only improve maize farmers’ productivity but also contribute to broader rural development goals.

Soil pH, governed by the relative concentrations of hydrogen () and hydroxyl () ions, is a key factor affecting the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soils. Most soils in Türkiye are alkaline due to calcareous parent material and climatic influences, which restricts the availability of essential nutrients to plants. Sulphur applications are widely employed to reduce soil pH and increase nutrient bioavailability. The use of Sulphur for the amelioration of alkaline soils will continue to be a crucial strategy for enhancing agricultural sustainability in the future. This study investigates the effects of different Sulphur sources on the pH of sandy and clay-loam texture soils. This study investigates the effects of different Sulphur sources on the pH of sandy and clay loam textured soils. The soil samples used in the research were taken from Pınarbaşı and Melikgazi districts of Kayseri province, and soil samples were taken from both regions from a depth of 30 cm and from 20 randomly determined different points. Sulphur applications were applied at rates of (0, 0.02, 0.04 g 100 g-1) (X: powdered Sulphur ) and (0, 0.044, 0.088 g 100 g-1) (Y: granular Sulphur ) based on weight for clay-loam and sandy textured soils, respectively. Samples taken on days 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 180, and 360 post-applications showed that the impact of Sulphur applications on soil pH change was significant across all treatments (p<0.01). The lowest pH measurement, 6.92, was observed in sandy textured soils with an application from granular Sulphur at 0.088 g 100 g-1. The pH change in clay-loam textured soils was found to range from 8.13 to 7.79, and in sandy textured soils from 7.69 to 6.92. These changes suggest that the acidifying effect of Sulphur oxidation on soil pH varies depending on the soil’s buffering capacity, particle size ratio, application rate, and incubation day. Consequently, the granular Sulphur was found to be more effective compared to the control and powdered Sulphur , and an application rate of 0.088 g 100 g-1 might be effective for both clay-loam and sandy soils. However, due to its lack of economic feasibility, 0.044 g dose or the doses from powdered Sulphur might be more appropriate.