Effects of Exogenous Oxytocin on Embryonic Survival in Cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oxytocin on embryonic survival in dairy cows. Pregnancy was verified using the early pregnancy factor (EPF) activity on Day 4 after artificial insemination (AI). Pregnant cows were randomly allotted to two groups: treated (n = 8) and control (n = 8). Oxytocin (100 IU, 5 ml, DIF Turkey) was administered twice daily by intravenous injections to treated cows and sterile saline (5 ml) to control cows immediately before milking on days 4 to 7 after AI. Blood samples were taken via jugular vein every day from day 4 to 8 and every other day until Day 20 following insemination to evaluate the effect of oxytocin on embryonic survival. The embryonic loss was diagnosed in 3 of the 8 cows treated with oxytocin, and embryonic survival rate was 62.5% in this group versus 87.5% in controls. Short cycles occurred in 37.5% of oxytocin-treated cows. At the same time their serum progesterone concentrations rose more slowly than in controls. It was concluded that cows administered oxytocin on days 4 to 7 after insemination are at a higher risk of pregnancy loss

The Changes of the Body Weight and Some Blood Parameters of Pekin Ducklings Dependent on Transportation Duration

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; ERISIR, Zeki/0000-0003-0420-023X; Erisir, Mine/0000-0001-6209-4792WOS: 000262562100003The effect of transportation on body weight and some blood parameters of hatching Pekin ducklings were investigated. A total of 500 (250 male, 250 female) 1 day-old ducklings (Star 52-Grimaud Freres) were obtained from a commercial hatchery. Upon hatching and on the 4, 8 and 12 h of the transportation, each duckling was weighed to determine their body weights. Before transportation and on the 4, 8 and 12 h of the transportation, necks of 10 male and 10 female ducklings were broken and blood samples were taken. Plasma corticosterone, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST (Aspartate transaminase), CK (Creatine kinase), total protein, albumin levels and blood H/L (heterophile/lymphocyte) ratios were determined. The body weights, which were 46.1 and 45.7 g for hatching male and female ducklings, fell down to 41.3 and 41.5 g at the end of transportation. During transportation, a total of 4 ducklings died; 1 male and 1 female on the 8 h, 1 male and 1 female on the 12 h. Plasma glucose levels of ducklings decreased up to 8 h of transportation, but increased at 12 h. Plasma corticosterone, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, total protein, albumin levels and blood H/L ratios increased in transported ducklings due to increasing transportation time

Performance Validation of High Resolution Digital Surface Models Generated by Dense Image Matching with the Aerial Images

The digital surface models (DSM) are the most popular products to determine visible surface of Earth which includes all non-terrain objects such as vegetation, forest, and man-made constructions. The airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is the preferred technique for high resolution DSM generation in local coverage. The automatic generation of the high resolution DSM is also possible with stereo image matching using the aerial images. The image matching algorithms usually rely on the feature based matching for DSM generation. First, feature points are extracted and then corresponding features are searched in the overlapping images. These image matching algorithms face with the problems in the areas which have repetitive pattern such as urban structure and forest. The recent innovation in camera technology and image matching algorithm enabled the automatic dense DSM generation for large scale city and environment modelling. The new pixel-wise matching approaches are generates very high resolution DSMs which corresponds to the ground sample distance (GSD) of the original images. The numbers of the research institutes and photogrammetric software vendors are currently developed software tools for dense DSM generation using the aerial images. This new approach can be used high resolution DSM generation for the larger cities, rural areas and forest even Nation-wide applications. In this study, the performance validation of high resolution DSM generated by pixel-wise dense image matching in part of Istanbul was aimed. The study area in Istanbul is including different land classes such as open areas, forest and built-up areas to test performance of dense image matching in different land classes. The obtained result from this performance validation in Istanbul test area showed that, high resolution DSM which corresponds to the ground sample distance (GSD) of original aerial image can be generated successfully by pixel-wise dense image matching using commercial and research institution’s software

Performance Validation of High Resolution Digital Surface Models Generated by Dense Image Matching with the Aerial Images

The digital surface models (DSM) are the most popular products to determine visible surface of Earth which includes all non-terrain objects such as vegetation, forest, and man-made constructions. The airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is the preferred technique for high resolution DSM generation in local coverage. The automatic generation of the high resolution DSM is also possible with stereo image matching using the aerial images. The image matching algorithms usually rely on the feature based matching for DSM generation. First, feature points are extracted and then corresponding features are searched in the overlapping images. These image matching algorithms face with the problems in the areas which have repetitive pattern such as urban structure and forest. <br><br> The recent innovation in camera technology and image matching algorithm enabled the automatic dense DSM generation for large scale city and environment modelling. The new pixel-wise matching approaches are generates very high resolution DSMs which corresponds to the ground sample distance (GSD) of the original images. The numbers of the research institutes and photogrammetric software vendors are currently developed software tools for dense DSM generation using the aerial images. This new approach can be used high resolution DSM generation for the larger cities, rural areas and forest even Nation-wide applications. In this study, the performance validation of high resolution DSM generated by pixel-wise dense image matching in part of Istanbul was aimed. The study area in Istanbul is including different land classes such as open areas, forest and built-up areas to test performance of dense image matching in different land classes. The obtained result from this performance validation in Istanbul test area showed that, high resolution DSM which corresponds to the ground sample distance (GSD) of original aerial image can be generated successfully by pixel-wise dense image matching using commercial and research institution’s software

Effect of Different Housing Systems on Growth and Welfare of Pekin Ducks

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; ERISIR, Zeki/0000-0003-0420-023XWOS: 000264104700007The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different housing systems on growth and welfare of Pekin ducks. A total of 420 (212 male, 208 female) one-day-old ducklings were used in this study. The ducklings were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups; 2 Intensive Systems (IS) (one without pool and the other with swimming pool) and 2 intensive systems with outside activity (IOS) (one with swimming pool and the other without pool). The IOS with swimming pool was found to influence the body weight at 6 weeks of age. Body weight at 6 weeks of age was lower in ducks reared in IOS with pool than those reared in IOS without pool. Feed consumption was the highest and also feed efficiency was the lowest in ducks reared in IS without pool. The differences between the groups in terms of values for immune response, H-L ratio, plasma corticosterone, cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride levels were not statistically significant. It is concluded that although, the most common system used for duck rearing worldwide is IS without pool, the findings of the present study indicate that IOS with swimming pool is the best system in terms of duck welfare and growth

Effects of Housing System, Swimming Pool and Slaughter Age on Duck Performance, Carcass and Meat Characteristics

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; ERISIR, Zeki/0000-0003-0420-023X; OKSUZTEPE, Gulsum/0000-0003-3267-6841WOS: 000268160300037The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different housing systems, swimming pool and slaughter age on performance, carcass and meat characteristics of ducks. A total of 420 (212 male, 208 female) one day old ducklings (Star 52-Grimaud Freres) were obtained from a commercial hatchery. The ducklings were randomly divided into four treatment groups; two Intensive Systems (IS) (one without pool and the other with swimming pool) and two intensive systems with outside activity (IOS) (one with swimming pool and the other without pool). Each group included 105 (53 male and 52 female) ducklings. European Efficiency Factor (EEF), feed efficiency and livability rate were affected by the housing system, swimming pool and age. Housing system and slaughter age significantly affected the slaughter weight and cold carcass yield. Breast, legs and wings percentages were significantly affected by slaughter age. PH(24), cooking loss, ash, protein and lipid contents of leg muscle were significantly altered by age. PH(24), ash, protein and lipid contents increased while, the cooking loss decreased with age. Housing system had no effect on the carcass chemical composition. From the point of EEF the market age of Pekin ducks at 6 weeks is more beneficial due to the better feed efficiency, lower feed intake and lower feed cost. Open sided area and swimming pool enhanced the EEF.FUBAP (Management Office of Scientific Research Projects of Firat University)Firat University [1333]This study was partially supported with a grant by FUBAP (Management Office of Scientific Research Projects of Firat University) (Project No: 1333; Project coordinator: Dr. Z. Erisir). We are grateful to FUVEM (Research and Practice Directorship of Farm of Firat University) for their cooperation