The Black Sea Region has a convenient structure for small ruminants in livestock activities thanks to its mountainous, rugged terrain, climate and socio-economic structure. Ordu is the third largest city of the Black Sea Region. The purpose of this research is to determine the current status of small ruminant in Ordu province and offer solutions by defining the problems.

The aim of this study was to determine the growth parameters of European Flounder fry (Platichthys flesus luscus L. 1758) caught from the nature in different feeding methods in aquaculture conditions. The study was conducted between April and July 2011, and the fish were collected at the connection point of Sarıkum Lagoon with the Black Sea in Sinop Province using seines and large scoops. A total of 750 European Flounder with the average weight of 0.93±0.01 (0.71-1.21) g were stocked in 5 groups with 3 repetitions. The groups were organized according to the feeding protocols [G1:90 days Chironomid larvae (CL), G2:60 days CL+30 days CL+ granular feed (GY), G3:30 days CL+60 days CL+ GY, G4:90 days CL+GY, G5:90 days GY]. At the end of the study, the weights of the fish were determined as 10.83±0.51, 9.89±0.22, 6.33±0.21, 5.13±0.11, 3.81±0.09, respectively. It was found that feeding preferences of the fish had significant effects on weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and survival rate. European Flounder fry, as in their natural habitat, mostly preferred natural feed moving in the deep in the production site. It was determined that using live feed as the starter feed for the adaptation of European Flounder fry had a significant effect on growth parameters and survival rates.

This study aimed to evaluate the readability of electronic and visual ear tags in hair goat kids managed under extensive conditions. A total of 74 kids were identified with electronic and visual ear tags at birth. Readability of electronic and visual ear tags was 97.3% and 94.6% in static conditions at the end of 7 months, and 96.8% and 93.5% at the end of the first year after tagging, respectively. No breakages and electronic failures occurred during this study. Infected ear rate in electronic and visual ear tags was 45.9% and 17.6%, respectively. Under the conditions of this study, electronic and visual ear tags did not fulfill the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) requirements (readability >98%) for an official animal identification device at the end of the first year after tagging. Therefore, low animal traceability with electronic and visual ear tags was determined by this study.

In Ethiopia, the national agricultural research system has been generating and disseminating different agricultural technologies since its establishment in 1966. Although these technologies are meant to increase agricultural productivity, they have to be evaluated for their impact on production and for the benefit that the farmers get out of them. Hence, the main objectives of this study were to examine the impact of technological innovations on wheat production and to decompose the total change in wheat output resulting from the introduction of new technologies into its constituent parts. Cobb-Douglas production function was employed to estimate the regression coefficients under old variety growers, new variety growers, and pooled data cases. Output decomposition model was applied to decompose the total change in output into its constituent parts. The econometric results of this study indicated that, out of 55% of the observed productivity difference between old and new variety grown plots, technological change and change in associated input levels contributed about 24% and 31%, respectively. Of the 31% increment attributed to input use levels, an increased use of herbicides and fertilizers caused the biggest jump in the productivity of improved wheat varieties (15.5% and 11% respectively). The major implications included the need to exploit the full potential of new varieties using recommended input levels, strengthening the research system, fostering coordinated efforts among various actors in agricultural development, and strengthening the technology instrument in rural development and poverty reduction strategies of the country.

In this study was aimed to crossbred male kids of the Hair goat and Saanen x Hair kids (G1) body condition score and compare their body size intensive, semi-intensive and extensive conditions. In the research, 30 Hair goat and 30 Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred single male kids was used. When the research findings were evaluated, in terms of body condition scores of 30, 60 and 90th days high values in the semi-intensive were detected in fattening Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids. However, at the end of fattening in semi-intensive fattening group of Hair goat it is determined that the value of the highest condition score. This situation is thought to be caused by more growth of environment and width measurements in Hair goat kids in the later stages of fattening according to the Saanen x Hair goats (G1) crossbred. In study in terms of body length during whole fattening, in terms of the height at the withers data obtained from the 60th and 90th day was found statistically significant. At the end of the fattening in semi-intensive fattening group of Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred it was observed to have higher body length and height at the withers value of crossbred kids. When chest width measurements between paddles in kids were examined, in all periods seems to be an increase in Hair goat kids than the Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids. At the end of fattening in terms of height rump Hair goats has shown higher values than Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids but the highest values of the semi-intensive group has shown. As a result, semi-intensive feeding group of kids of body condition score and body size was higher than intensive and extensive fattening group kids, in terms of length and height measurements Saanen x Hair goat (G1) crossbred kids in terms of width and environmental measures has shown higher values than Hair goat kids.

In this study, researchers on storage and quality properties of mushrooms cultivated in the world and Turkey have been investigated. Mushrooms contain some important minerals and vitamins such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and folate, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B, C, D and also they are a good source of carbohydrate and protein. After harvest, to extend the shelf life of mushrooms, some applications such as pre-cooling, storage in appropriate temperature, use of different types of polyethylene packaging, modified atmosphere packaging, nitric oxide and UV light applications were done on mushrooms. The effects of these applications on physical and chemical features such as like weight loss, firmness, cap opening rate, cap diameter, stem diameter, browning, colour, respiration rate, enzymatic reactions, total phenols, total sugars, aminoacid content were investigated.

Flavones and flavonoids are known to have potent antioxidant activity due to intracellular free radical scavenging capacities. Flavonoids are found ubiquitously in plants as a member of polyphenolic compounds which share diverse chemical structure and properties. Quercetin is among the most efficient antioxidants of the flavonoids. The antioxidant property of quercetin has been highlighted in this review. These compounds have pivotal role in treatment of diabetes, cancers and some cardiovascular diseases.

In this study, ecological risks arising from the accumulation of some heavy metals in surface sediments of Lake Tortum are discussed based on the use of ecological indices, such as enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (PER) and the mean probable effect concentration quotient (mPEC-Q). Sediment samples were collected from six different sites using Van Veen grab and heavy metal and organic carbon content of sediments were determined. Results testify to the existence of minimal to moderate contamination in lake sediment. The highest value for the enrichment factor pertains to Cd caused by the use of fossil fuels in settlement areas in the lake catchment. PLI and PER estimations, on the other hand, reveals the presence of low heavy metals-induced ecological risk in lake sediments. Ranging between 15% and 29%, mPEC-Q values are indicative of the fact that Lake Tortum is a low-moderate priority site in terms of toxicity level caused by heavy metals.

Hydroponic farming system (HFS) is used to meet the roughage requirements of ruminants as an alternative method. In the system, forage production is achieved all over the year and germinated grains such as barley, wheat and oat, are used as fresh forage sources. In the present study, HFS, about which there are limited information, was discussed with its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the nutritive values of fresh forages produced in HFS system and also their using possibilities in animal nutrition were discussed. It was understood that HFS can be used for meeting forage requirements of ruminants if it runs effectively.

New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEP) is commonly used to determine people’s environmental opinion and their behaviors about it. Environment-friendly and sustainable agricultural production techniques are one of the most important issue in agricultural engineering. In this study, agricultural engineer candidates’ environmental behaviors were determined by using of NEP scale. Data was collected from 350 undergraduate students in 2015-2016 school year. Environmental behavior mean was found as 3,38 that indicates slightly better than average environmental behavior. Four sub dimensions were determined with Explanatory Factor Analysis and variance was found 68%. According to First and Second-Order Confirmatory Factor Analysis, data showed results that confirm models. Second-Order Confirmatory Factor Analysis explanatory rate was found 78%. Despite all technological development, mankind still under the influence of natural laws and there is a serious environmental degradation by human activities. Agricultural engineer candidates showed a behavior that is balanced between environmental awareness and meeting humans’ nutrition needs.