APPLICABILITY OF NON-FEED REMOVAL PROGRAMS TO INDUCE MOLTING INSTEAD OF THE CONVENTIONAL FEED WITHDRAWAL METHOD IN BROWN LAYING HENS

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to compare the applicability of non-feed removal (NFR) programs to induce molting in brown laying hens by feedusing alfalfa meal and barley grain on molting of instead of feed withdrawal in terms of performance, egg quality and profitability. A total of 240, 75-week-old Hy-Line brown laying hens were randomly divided into three groups as conventional feed withdrawal (CONV), and two non-feed removal programs using alfalfa meal (A+F) or barley grain (B+F), each containing 80 hens with 20 replicates (4 hens x 20 replicates = 80 hens). After 10 days of the induced molting the lowest body weight loss (20.01%) was found in the B+F method (p 0.05). Haugh unit of CONV group was better than NFR groups, whereas molting by NFR groups improved egg yolk color (p< 0.001). Despite higher feed cost of NFR programs, egg income and profit was better than CONV group (p< 0.001). In conclusion, molting with alfalfa meal and barley grain of brown layers may be used as non-feed removal programs, without negative effects on the performance and egg quality parameters. Besides, these non-feed removal programs have higher income and profitability

Analysis of Different Production Systems in Laying Hen Enterprises with Analytic Hierarchy Process in Turkey

The present study aimed to evaluated the enterprises engaged in conventional cage, enriched cage, free-range and organic egg production in Turkey in terms of four different criteria (profit, investment cost, animal welfare/health and sales/marketing) using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). For this purpose, the questionnaires through face-to-face interviews were conducted with a total of 64 producers who had been determined by random sampling method from 5 different regions included 17 Provinces between November 2016 and March 2019, and primary data were obtained. As a result, it has been found strategically significant that enterprises, to be engaged at the level of 47.0%, 20.0%, 18.0% and 15.0% in conventional, enriched, free-range and organic cage systems, respectively, in the market in terms of profit, investment cost, animal welfare/health and sales /marketing criteria. In addition, in the enterprises within the scope of the research, the profit, investment cost, sales/marketing and animal welfare/health criteria were determined as the dominant criteria at the level of 53.5%, 22.0%, 13.5% and 11.0% respectively. In conclusion, the conventional cage system is dominant with the rates of 55.0% for profit and 53.0% for investment cost criteria, and both of the conventional and enriched systems in terms of sales/marketing criteria are 38.5% dominant and the organic system in terms of animal welfare/health is 46.0% dominant

Effects of Transportation Distance, Slaughter Age, and Seasonal Factors on Total Losses in Broiler Chickens

ABSTRACT This study aimed at determining the total losses associated with the season, transportation distance, and slaughter age during the transportation of broilers from poultry farms to slaughterhouses in Turkey. All data and parameters were statistically analyzed and the change in total loss during transportation was evaluated by two-way analysis of variance to determine which factors or variables affect this change. Total transportation losses were compared among the four seasons of the year, two slaughter ages (younger broiler, 31-39 days of age; older broilers 40-46 days of age) and three distance ranges (short, ≤50 km; medium, 51-150 km; and long, ≥151 km). Total losses of 259.40 g, 307.35 g, and 350.14 g were determined for short, medium and long distances, respectively, indicating that losses increased with transportation distance (p<0.05). Broilers slaughtered at a younger age presented lower total losses than those slaughtered at an older age (p<0.05). When seasons were evaluated, the highest total loss was determined in the summer, which was not statistically different from that calculated for autumn, whereas total transportation losses in spring and winter were found relatively lower. The study showed long-distance transportation in the winter considerably increased total losses to levels similar to those obtained in the summer

parameters during liquid storage of ram semen at 5 degrees C

Ejaculates were collected from six Merino rams with the aid of an artificial vagina twice a week. The ejaculates containing spermatozoa with >80% forward progressive motility and concentrations higher than 2 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml were pooled. The present study included two experiments. In experiment 1, each pooled ejaculate was divided into four equal aliquots and diluted (37 degrees C) with the Tris based extender, containing 0 (control), 0.5, 1 and 2 mM lycopene, at a final concentration of approximately 400 x 10(6) sperms/ml (single step dilution), In experiment 2, cysteamine at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.5,1 and 2 mM, was used as an additive in the extender, and the procedure explained above was applied for the division of aliquots and the dilution of semen. Diluted semen samples were kept in glass tubes and cooled from 37 degrees to 5 degrees C in a cold cabinet, and maintained at 5 degrees C. Sperm and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated after 0, 24, 48 and 72 h of storage at 5 degrees C. The extender supplemented with 0.5 mM lycopene resulted in higher mitochondrial activity rate (p<0.05) in comparison to the control group at 72 h of storage. Lycopene at 0.5 mM dose led to higher sperm motility rate (p<0.05) when compared to 2 mM lycopene group at 72 h of liquid storage. As regards oxidative stress parameters, only 2 mM lycopene increased total glutathione levels (p<0.05) at 0 h of storage. The extender supplemented with 1 mM cysteamine gave higher motility (p<0.05) at 48 h compared to control. As regards oxidative stress parameters, 1 and 2 mM cysteamine at 48 h and 1 mM cysteamine at 72 h increased total glutathione levels (p<0.05) compared to control groups. Cysteamine at 1 and 2 mM doses decreased lipid peroxidation (p<0.05) at 0 h of liquid storage compared to control. Our data suggest that lycopene at 0.5 and 2 mM and cysteamine at 1 and 2 mM doses can be added to Tris based extender for improving the ram sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial activity and oxidative stress parameters during the liquid storage. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved