Effects of ram presence during synchronization period and previous experience on certain estrus parameters and sexual behaviors in Kivircik ewes

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ram presence during estrus synchronization protocol and previous sexual experience on estrus onset, estrus duration, and sexual behaviors in Kivircik ewes. The ewes were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of rams during the synchronization protocol. Ewes in each group were also divided into 3 subgroups according to their previous sexual experience. Ram presence during synchronization protocol did not affect estrus onset, estrus duration, mean attractivity, mean proceptivity, and mean receptivity. Nonexperienced ewes had longer estrus onset and shorter estrus duration than experienced ewes. Experienced ewes were more attractive and more receptive than the naive ones. It is concluded that although ram presence during estrus synchronization has no effect on sexual behaviors, previous sexual experience with males improves the expression of sexual behaviors in Kivircik ewes. Therefore, detection of estrus in maiden ewes should be performed more carefully in order to get high rates of flock fertility

Sexual behavior and hormone levels of Kivircik ewes after estrus synchronization during and out of the breeding season

The aim of the study was to investigate the sexual behavior and hormonal changes in Kivircik ewes synchronized during and out of the breeding season. Feeding, individual and eliminative behaviors of the ewes were also recorded. Group I ewes were synchronized during the breeding season and Group II ewes were synchronized out of the breeding season. At the end of synchronization protocol, ewes were exposed to Kivircik rams (day 0, hour 0) and behavioral observations were started. Jugular blood samples were collected at the end of each observation period. Among sexual behaviors, head-turning and non-firm standing were displayed more frequently than soliciting, anogenital sniffing, sniffing scrotum and firm standing in both groups. Squatting and tail-fanning were not observed regularly. Defecation and sexual behaviors did not differ between groups. Group I displayed more lying (P 0.5 righill at 122 h in both groups. Estrus onset was 30.0 +/- 1.38 and 26.5 +/- 2.27 h, for Group I and II, respectively. Estrus duration was 19.0 +/- 2.20 and 18.0 +/- 2.86 h, for the same groups, respectively. In conclusion, Kivircik ewes synchronized during the anestrous period showed similar behavioral and hormonal responses, as in the breeding season

Effects of suckling length (45, 75 and 120 d) and rearing type on cortisol level, carcass and meat quality characteristics in Kivircik lambs

Forty lambs were used to investigate effects of suckling length and rearing type (single and twin) on welfare parameters, carcass and meat quality characteristics. SC-45 and SC-75 lambs were weaned at 45-d and 75-d of age, respectively, whereas SC-120 lambs were not weaned until slaughter age of 120-d. The elevated cortisol concentration due to weaning stress returned to pre-weaning level at 2-d after weaning. SC-120 lambs had higher daily gain, plasma cortisol and glucose levels at exsanguination, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage and fatness score than weaned lambs. Suckling length did not influence instrumental meat quality characteristics, except shear force. SC-45 lambs had tougher meat than other groups according to instrumental and sensory analyses. SC-75 and SC-120 lambs had similar meat shear force value and sensory scores. Single lambs had higher daily gain, and greater scores for carcass characteristics and sensory evaluation, and lower pH(24) and shear force than twin lambs. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of pre-slaughter management regarding transportation and time in lairage on certain stress parameters, carcass and meat quality characteristics in Kivircik lambs

Thirty Kivircik lambs were used to investigate effect of pre-slaughter treatment on certain haematological and biochemical parameters, carcass and meat quality characteristics. Lambs were divided into three treatments: 75 min transport and lairage for 18 h (TS-L18 h); 75 min transport and lairage for 30 min (TS-L30 min) and no pre-slaughter transport and lairage for 30 min (NTS). Treatment, as a main effect, did not influence haematological and biochemical parameters, but sampling time significantly affected these parameters, except total protein. Plasma cortisol concentration at exsanguination in TS-18 h, TS-30 min and NTS treatments were 117.34, 11923 and 72.51 ng/ml, respectively. pH of longissimus dorsi muscle was higher in TS-L30 min than other treatments. TS-L30 min lambs had the highest shear force value, the lowest WHC and cooking loss. TS-L30 min treatment yielded the darkest meat immediately after cutting and 1 h later. Meat redness, yellowness and chroma values were similar in treatments. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Noise stress changes mRNA expressions of corticotropin-releasing hormone, its receptors in amygdala, and anxiety-related behaviors

Noise is a psychological, environmental stressor that activates limbic sites in the brain. Limbic sites such as the amygdala and the amygdaloid corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) system play an important role in integrating stress response. We investigated the association between noise exposures, CRH-related molecules in the amygdala, and behavioral alterations. In total 54 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following three groups: Control (CON), acute noise exposure (ANE), and chronic noise exposure (CNE). The ANE group was exposed to 100 dB white noise only once in 4 h and the CNE group was exposed to the same for 4 h per day for 30 days. Expression profiles of CRH and its receptors CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The same stress procedure was applied to the ANE and CNE groups for behavior testing. The anxiety responses of the animals after acute and chronic stress exposure were measured in the defensive withdrawal test. CNE upregulated CRH and CRH-R1 mRNA levels but downregulated CRH-R2 mRNA levels. ANE led to a decrease in both CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 expression. In the defensive withdrawal test, while the ANE increased, CNE reduced anxiety-like behaviors. The present study shows that the exposure of rats to white noise (100 dB) leads to behavioral alterations and molecule-specific changes in the CRH system. Behavioral alterations can be related to these molecular changes in the amygdala

Certain behavioral characteristics and stress responses of out-of-breeding ewes and rams during an intensive fattening program

The aim was to investigate behaviors and stress responses of rams and ewes in an intensive fattening period. Out-of-breeding rams (Hemsin = 10, Karakul = 10) and ewes (Hemsin = 8, Karakul = 10) were used in the study. Sheep and rams belonging to each breed were placed into four different pens. Behavioral observations (individual, feeding, abnormal self-grooming behaviors) were performed 2 days a week for two groups a day for 1 h. Blood samples were collected at the beginning, at the 4th week, and at the end of the fattening period. Karakul ewes displayed significantly more feeding and rumination behavior than Hemsin ewes, while there was no significant difference between ram groups. Ewes displayed more lying and rumination behavior than rams in the current study. On the other hand, rams were more active than ewes and also showed more abnormal behavior (butting other animals) during the fattening period. Sheep breed had no influence on packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, or cortisol level at any sampling time. PCV, Hb, and cortisol levels at the middle of the fattening period were higher in ewes than rams. In conclusion, the behavioral repertoire of Hemsin and Karakul breeds in intensive fattening does not reveal any stress responses

Influence of ram presence (permanent vs. intermittent) on estrus parameters and behaviours in Kivircik ewes

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of type of ram presence (permanent vs. intermittent) on estrus onset, estrus duration and frequency of sexual behaviours in Kivircik ewes. During the breeding season, 20 multiparous Kivircik ewes were divided into two groups of permanent (PR) and intermittent (IR) presence of ram. Estrus was synchronized with fluorgestone acetate intravaginal sponges left for 14 days, plus an injection of 600 IU PMSG at the time of sponge removal. PR ewes introduced with ram immediately after sponge removal and remained with the ram throughout the study (5 days). IR ewes were exposed to ram twice a day, only during the observation periods. Behavioural observations were performed twice a day (at 07:00 a. m. and 07:00 p. m.) for a 2-hour period. Estrus onset was 32.40 +/- 1.60 h for PR group and 27.60 +/- 2.40 h for IR group (p > 0.05). Estrus duration was 15.60 +/- 1.83 h and 34.80 +/- 2.15 h for the same groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Standing was the most frequently displayed behaviour in both groups. IR ewes displayed sexual (p < 0.001), eating (p < 0.001), standing (p < 0.001), walking (p < 0.001), urination (p < 0.001) and defecation (p < 0.05) behaviours much more than the PR ewes. Frequency of each sexual behaviour was higher in IR group compared with PR group throughout the study. Among the proceptive behaviours investigated, head-turning was the most frequently displayed behaviour in both groups. Soliciting, non-firm standing, sniffing scrotum and anogenital sniffing behaviours were also expressed by the ewes considerably. It is concluded that, if the ewes are exposed to ram intermittently, behavioural signs of estrus could be recognized more successfully. Furthermore, the possibility of insemination of estrous ewes becomes much higher by the intermittent presence of ram and thus reproductive performance of the herd could be improved

Serological and molecular investigation of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. in ticks and blood of dogs, in the Thrace Region of Turkey

In recent years, tick-borne diseases like ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis became widespread worldwide threatening the health of both human and companion animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in dogs and ticks in the Thrace Region of Turkey. A total of 400 blood samples and 912 ticks were collected from dogs living in shelters that are located in four cities (Istanbul, Edirne, Tekirdag and Kirklareli) of the Thrace Region. Blood and buffy coat smears were prepared for microscopic examination. Hematologic and serologic analyses were performed using cell counter and commercial Snap3Dx test kit, respectively. Eight hundred fifty of collected ticks were classified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 33 as Rhipicephalus turanicus and 29 as Ixodes ricinus. After DNA extraction from blood samples and pooled ticks (127 tick pools, in total), nested PCR was performed to detect the DNA of Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. The seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis was 27.25% (109) by Snap3Dx test and the total molecular positivity was 11.75% (47) in dog blood samples and 21.25% (27) in tick pools by nested PCR. The frequencies of the infected blood samples with E. canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys were detected as 6%, 4% and 6%, respectively. E. canis and A. platys were detected in R. sanguineus pools with a ratio of 15.75% and 0.7%, respectively. In addition, A. platys was also detected in R. turanicus pools (0.7%). A. phagocytophilum was found only in I. ricinus pools (3.93%). Morulae of three species were detected in buffy coat and blood smears. While anemia was observed in dogs infected with E. canis and co-infected (with one or more species), thrombocytopenia was observed only in co-infected dogs. This is the first study providing evidence for the presence of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in dogs and ticks in the Thrace Region of Turkey. Based on the results of the tests used in this study, we recommend the combined use of serologic, molecular, cytologic, hematologic analyses and physical examination of tick exposure for an accurate diagnosis of ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Investigation of the long term effects of chronic white noise stress on learning in radial arm maze and behaviors in forced swim test

The long-term effects of 100 dB chronic white noise stress (WNS), exposed during prenatal and adolescent periods, on some cognitive functions and behaviors in rats were investigated. For this purpose, 40 female Sprague Dawley rats and their 60 male offspring were used. Pregnant rats were divided into Prenatal Stress (PS) and Prenatal Control (PC) groups. Noise stress was applied to PS group between the 14th and 21st days of their pregnancy, while PC rats were left undisturbed. After weaning, 60 male pups of PS dams were assigned to prenatal + chronic postnatal stress (PSCS), prenatal stress + non stress (PSN) and Control (CON) groups. During the postnatal 30th and 51st days, WNS was applied to PSCS rats, while PSN and CON groups were left undisturbed. The effects of stress on adult male offspring were investigated using 8-arm radial maze and forced swimming tests. There were no significant differences among groups for cognition and behavior tests. These results indicate that chronic 100 dB WNS does not have log-term effects on cognitive functions and depression related behaviors of adult male offspring

The effects of prestorage leukoreduction and storage duration on the in vitro quality of canine packed red blood cells

The effects of prestorage leukoreduction and storage duration on the in vitro quality parameters of canine packed red blood cells (pRBCs) stored in saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAGM) were investigated. Hematological, biochemical, and morphological changes in filtered and unfiltered pRBCs were determined each week during 42 days of storage. All of the parameters changed significantly during storage. The effects of leukoreduction on leukocyte and erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, hemoglobin content, and erythrocyte morphology were significant. While supernatant K increased during storage, glucose, Cl, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentrations decreased. Filtered pRBCs had higher 2,3-DPG levels throughout storage than their unfiltered counterparts. It was concluded that the leukoreduction filter significantly decreases the number of leukocytes and that canine pRBCs can be stored in SAGM for 42 days. Furthermore, leukoreduction may be a consideration with the intention of improving oxygen delivery, since the filtered pRBCs had a higher 2,3-DPG concentration