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.

Türkiye’nin mevcut doğal çayır-mera alanları ile yem bitkileri ekim alanlarından üretilen toplam kaba yem 73,7 milyon büyük ve küçükbaş hayvan varlığının kaba yem gereksinimini karşılayamamaktadır. Türkiye’de 14,6 milyon hektar doğal çayır-mera alanı bulunmaktadır. Bu alanın büyük çoğunluğunun ot verimi ve kalitesinin artırılması ve sürdürülebilirliğinin sağlanması için ıslahı gereklidir. Bu alanların ıslahı için toplamda 45,6 milyar TL bütçeye ve yıllık bakım için ortalama 4 milyar TL’ye ihtiyaç olduğu hesaplanmıştır. 4342 sayılı Mera Kanunu ile birlikte başlatılan Mera Islah ve Amenajman Projeleri ile bugüne kadar ıslah edilen mera alanları oldukça yetersizdir. Ayrıca, ıslah edilen mera alanlarının otlatılmasında mera idaresinin teknik kurallarına uyulmamasından dolayı yapılan ıslah işlemi sürdürülebilir olmamaktadır. Mevcut bütçe kaynaklarının yeterli olmaması ve devlet imkânları ile mera ıslahının uzun yıllar sürecek olması nedeniyle sürdürülebilir mera ıslahında yeni bir bakış açısına, politika değişikliğine ihtiyaç vardır. Bu çalışmada Türkiye meralarının etkin ıslahı ve sürdürülebilir kullanımı için bazı ıslah ve kullanım modelleri tartışılmıştır. Yapılan öneri ile kıraç meralardan 1000 dekardan taban meralarda 500 dekardan daha büyük orta malı meraların özel sektöre kiralanarak “ıslah et-işlet” sistemiyle ıslah edilmesi ve özel sektör tarafından ıslah edilen alanın ¾’ünün ıslah eden özel sektör, ¼’ünün ise meranın tahsisli bulunduğu köydeki hayvan sahipleri tarafından kullanımın sağlanması önerilmiştir. Kıraçta 1000 dekar, tabanda 500 dekardan küçük alana sahip mera alanlarının ise tahsisli bulundukları yerleşim yerindeki Mera Yönetim Birliklerine kiralanarak ıslahı ve sürdürülebilir kullanımının sağlanması önerilmiştir. Mera Yönetim Birliklerinin ıslah amaçlı kiralamaya istekli olmadığı durumlarda mera alanının büyüklüğüne bakılmaksızın meranın özel sektöre kiralanması önerilmiştir.

Striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) is one of the species in danger of extinction and categorized globally as “Under Threatened Organism”. From time to time, different tissue samples and carcasses of the striped hyena are reported in different regions of Anatolia. In this study, 571 bp length of Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit II (COX 2) of mitochondiral DNA from hair, ears, nails and teeth specimens from six striped hyaenas were amplified and sequenced to determined phylogenetic relationships between close and distant species related to hyaena. Tissue samples using in this study were found randomly at different times in Hatay province, Turkey. According to our results, all colected samples located in Hatay region are the members of H. hyaena species. Moreover, this research is the first molecular research using COX2 gene region for phylogenetic analysis in Turkey. Further investigation can be performed on studies that suggest determining phylogenetic status of striped hyaenas.

In this study, some biochemical characteristics (total protein, total RNA, Catalase: CAT enzyme activity and malondialdehyde: MDA level) of Italian bee (A. m. ligustica) and Caucasian bee (A. m. caucasica), and Muğla and Anatolian bees (A. m. anatolica) from local honey bee races were investigated comparatively. Laboratory analyzes of biochemical characteristics were performed on worker bees aged 24 days old with 10 repetitions using appropriate methods informed in the literature. The amounts of total protein of bee races given above were 18.39±1.28, 20.71±0.63, 18.56±1.24 and 20.95±2.15 g/dL, respectively; the amounts of total RNA were 11.46±0.18, 12.10±0.26, 11.87±0.20 and 12.27±0.26 µg/µL, respectively; the CAT activities were 4.59±0.46, 5.12±0.67, 4.88±0.48 and 5.25±0.53 kU/g P, respectively; the levels of MDA were 0.52±0.04, 0.50±0.04, 0.48±0.02 ve 0.43±0.05 mmol/mg, respectively. Variance analysis showed that statistically significant differences among races in terms of the all characteristics examined. The results of CAT activity which is one of the indicators of antioxidant defense system, and levels of MDA which is an indicator of peroxidation of membrane lipids; and similarly total amount of protein also includes various proteins such as antioxidants and enzymes; it can be said that the Anatolian and Caucasian bee races (due to higher total protein, total RNA and CAT activities, and lower MDA level) are more resistant to various negative environmental factors (e.g. climate, flora, pesticide, etc.) than the Muğla and Italian bee races in the conditions of the Central Anatolia Region; there are significant differences between the bee races in terms of amounts of total RNA and this parameter can be also used in the characterization of bee races.

Honey bee queen quality is a critical factor of colony performance. Indications of such qualities can manifest themselves through morphological traits such as wet weight and thorax width. Improving such characteristics is driven in part by nutritional provision in queen-cell-builder hives. We investigated the potential to improve queen quality by adding coenzyme Q10 (endogenous antioxidant) and caffeine (central nervous system stimulator) to feeder syrup in queen-cell-builder colonies for 15 and 20 days prior to grafting, two sets of queens were reared. We recorded subsequent wet weight, body length, head width and length, thorax and wing width and length, and spermathecae diameter. The queen-cell acceptance rate was not affected by either treatment or graft period. Coenzyme Q10 increased wet weight, body and wing length in the first graft, and thorax width, wing length and spermathecae diameter in the second graft. The caffeine treatment increased head and thorax length in first graft and thorax width in the second. A mix of the two substances (coenzyme Q10 and caffeine) increased head width in the first graft and spermathecae diameter in the second graft. This study suggests that the application of coenzyme Q10 to cell-builder colonies at least 15 days prior to grafting can increase reared wet weight (the most significant quality indicator) and thorax width of queen bees.

Turkey is among the rare countries in terms of plant diversity, and thus, most plant species spread widely throughout the country. Apricot is one of these plant species. Due to the self-incompatibility seen in apricots, it is necessary to use a pollinator variety for a quality and efficient product. With this study carried out in 2021 year, the effects of different pollinators on fruit set and some fruit quality parameters of Casne Drenova, Ninfa and P. de Tyrinthe cultivars were investigated in Kayseri ecological conditions. In the study, early ripening apricot varieties were used as paternal parent. According to the results of the study, it was shown that fruit set values varied between 11.6% and 22.6%. In the pomological parameters examined in the study, in general (except for fruit firmness), differences were found in combinations using different pollinators compared to the open pollinated fruits of the maternal parent. It is foreseen that the results obtained will be guiding especially in the breeding studies to be carried out with these varieties and in the establishment of new orchards.

This study compared egg quality parameters in layers under free-range system with prefabricated pens and backyard while emphasizing hen age. A total of 300 eggs collected from prefabricated pens and backyard farming families in the Çamardı District of Niğde Province were used as study materials. The assessed external and internal egg quality characteristics included egg weight, shape index, shell thickness, shell breaking strength, albumen index, Haugh unit, yolk index, and yolk colour. The effect of production system on albumen index, Haugh unit, and yolk colour score was found statistically significant. There was a significant effect of age on shape index, shell thickness, shell breaking strength, albumen index, Haugh Unit, yolk index, and yolk colour score. The effect of interaction between age and production system was statistically significant for shape index, shell thickness, yolk index, Haugh Unit, and yolk colour score. It was determined that the egg`s meat and blood spots percentages from the free-range and backyard systems were 10.6% and 15.3%, respectively. It was concluded that while eggs produced from free-range system are superior in terms of egg weight, shape index, and Haugh unit those obtained from backyard hens are higher in eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength, and egg yolk colour.

The aim of the study is to present a review about the "Wooden Breast Syndrome" (WBS) syndrome, which is a muscle disorder that has become increasingly important in recent years, and the etiology of the abnormalities caused by this myopathy, and its histological, macroscopic, and microscopic features. Besides, the effects on the visual, sensory, functional, mechanical quality and processing properties of the breast meat of broilers and their negative effects on the poultry industry were also discussed. Since this myopathy gives a hard structure to the pectolaris major muscle, it is called "Wooden Breast" in public. It is assumed that the leading direct and indirect causes of WB syndrome in broilers are pectoral muscle hypertrophy (volume increase in muscle cells), rapid growth rate, and high breast meat yield. Also, age, gender, diet, feed restriction, oxidative stress, genetics, etc. factors are also thought to be effective. However, the etiology of WB syndrome is still unclear in many aspects. As a result of the macroscopic examination of the wooden breast meat, a striking stiffness, swelling, viscous exudate (inflammatory fluid), petechial (purple-red bleeding spots) fluid, and a pale appearance in the pectoral major muscles are observed, and the lesions that occur can be detected by palpation. Due to these visual and sensory defects in breast meat, the consumability of meat decreases and this leads to significant economic losses for the poultry industry.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most significant vegetable crops for humans along with corn, wheat, and rice. In this study, quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds was carried out for 21 promising potato clones and three commercial cultivars. LC–MS/MS was used for the chemical analyses. The TOGU 3/518 clone had the highest level of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid as 138.51 ± 7.35 µg/kg. TOGU 12/29 and TOGU 2/198 clones, on the other hand, had 126.24 ± 2.29 and 125.29 ± 2.74 µg/kg of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, respectively. Salicylic acid which is a pharmaceutically significant compound was found in TOGU 3/518 clone (125.66 ± 11.51 µg/kg) as a major product. This compound was also found in TOGU 2/198 (111.27 ±1.31 µg/kg) and TOGU 12/29 clones (111.07 ± 3.68 µg/kg) as the third and fourth most abundant. In terms of caffeic acid, TOGU 3/110 clone contained the highest level (42.50 ± 3.73 µg/kg). While TOGU 7/146 clone included the most protocatechuic acid (53.98 ± 1.47 µg/kg), TOGU 3/480 clone consisted of most gentisic acid (30.79 ± 0.51 µg/kg). Quercetin, an important flavonoid found many aromatic and medicinal plants, was highest in TOGU 12/29 clone (6.27 ± 0.15 µg/kg).