ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the influence of two different production systems on the welfare of a new Turkish egg-laying hybrid known as Akbay. A total of 180 Akbay hens at the 80th week of production either reared in a free-range system or conventional cages were used. Live body weight at the 80th week of production was recorded, as well as the weight of immune organs and liver. Plumage damage, foot lesions, stress, and fear were examined. It was observed that the live body weight at the 80th week of production was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the free-range birds as compared to those housed in cages. The rectal temperature was statistically higher (p<0.05) in hens reared in the free-range systems than in those housed in the conventional cages. The percentage of hens with mild to severe foot lesions was higher in the free-range system than in the conventional cages. Plumage damages were more common and severe among hens in cages than among free-range hens. No significant differences were recorded for tonic immobility (TI), the duration of the first head movement, and the number of inductions during TI. The fluctuating asymmetry of the leg and the weight of immune organs and liver were also not significantly different between the housing systems. The housing of laying hens in free range systems improved live body weight with a reduction in stress and feather damage. However, it is suggested that further research should aim at improving the foot lesion issues associated with this housing system. egglaying egg 18 th freerange used damage examined p<0.05 p005 p 0 05 (p<0.05 TI, TI , (TI) movement However 1 p<0.0 p00 (p<0.0 (TI p<0. p0 (p<0. p<0 (p<0 p< (p< (p

ABSTRACT This work reviews the effect of environmental enrichments (perches, platforms, stocking density, outdoor access, bale, and dust bathing substrates) on the performance of fast and slow-growing commercial broiler strains. The performance of both slow and fast-growing commercial broiler strains under conventional production systems are generally poor, especially regarding the welfare status. One of the strategies to improve the performance of commercial broiler strains is by adding enrichment objects to production systems. The addition of enrichments to production systems should improve animal welfare, have no negative effect on production performance, and be both economically practicable and feasible to employ. Perches and platforms are the most common enrichments used to increase the activity of broiler chickens to improve leg conditions. The use of perches and platforms could lead to the reduction in the incidence of footpad dermatitis, hockburns and breast blisters, with subsequent effects on meat quality. Moreover, the provision of outdoor access could improve the biology responses of broiler chickens to various environmental stimuli, with a profound effect on performance and meat quality traits. Furthermore, another enrichment strategies that could increase the exploratory behavior and the general welfare of broiler chickens is the use of dustbathing and bale subtrates. Moreover, adjusting the stocking density provides broiler chickens with the necessary space for movement, reduces crowding, trampling and the associated agonistic behavior. However, the effect of some of these enrichments (perches, platform, bale) objects may vary depending on height, age, sex, and strain of the chickens. perches, (perches substrates slowgrowing growing fastgrowing poor status employ conditions dermatitis blisters Moreover stimuli traits Furthermore subtrates movement crowding However platform height age sex

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the effects of housing systems (free-range and conventional cage) during the egg-laying phase on the growth, egg production, overall egg weight, and egg quality traits of a new Turkish laying hen hybrid, Akbay. A total of 600 (300 hens per housing system) Akbay laying hen hybrids were used in this study. At the end of the rearing cycle (17 weeks) the average live weight and cumulative feed intake for both groups were 1150.8g and 5067.52g, respectively. The live weight and cumulative feed intake at the onset of laying for both groups were 1198.42g and 5537.77g, respectively. Egg production, average daily feed intake, and average daily feed conversion ratio were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in free-range hens than in hens housed in cages. The live weight at peak production was significantly higher (p≤0.05) in hens housed in cages than in free-range hens. Significant differences (p≤0.05) in terms of internal and external egg quality traits were observed between the housing systems in this study. Generally, the free-range hens had better performance than the hens in cages. It was therefore concluded that the growth performance, egg production, overall egg weight, and egg quality traits of the new Turkish laying hen hybrid Akbay are better in the free-range production system than in convention cages; and that these hens can be housed in the free-range system without any negative effect on performance and egg quality traits. freerange free range cage egglaying 60 300 (30 17 (1 weeks 11508g g 1150 8g 506752g 5067 52g 5067.52g respectively 119842g 1198 42g 553777g 5537 77g 5537.77g p≤0.05 p005 p 0 05 (p≤0.05 Generally 6 30 (3 1 ( 115 506 119 553 p≤0.0 p00 (p≤0.0 3 11 50 55 p≤0. p0 (p≤0. 5 p≤0 (p≤0 p≤ (p≤ (p

ABSTRACT The current study was conducted to determine the effects of the licorice root (Glycyrrhriza glabra) in laying hens diets on performance, egg cholesterol, some plasma parameters and antioxidant capacity. One hundred, 40-week old laying hens were divided into four groups, each group consisted of 25 hens and were placed in individual cages. The mean of the initial body weight of laying hens was 1829.18±9.595 g. Commercial laying hen diet was supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% levels of licorice root powder and four different dietary groups were formed. From the experimental findings, it was ascertained that the licorice root supplementation had no significant effect on egg weight and feed conversion ratio (p>0.05), but feed consumption decreased with increasing licorice root (p<0.05).Egg yield was recorded as 88.94%, 89.56%, 86.82% and 85.02% in the groups of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, respectively (p<0.05).Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) and egg yolk cholesterol level decreased with the addition of licorice root, while plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was increased with licorice root addition (p<0.05). Licorice root addition had a positive effect on total antioxidant capacity (TAS) of plasma. It was determined that the total antioxidant capacity was increased by increasing amount of licorice root. From the overall findings, it can be concluded that licorice root could be used as a feed additive without any adverse effect on performance. It has been demonstrated that the licorice root enables the production of functional eggs.

ABSTRACT This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of using garlic extract (Allium sativum) as an alternative to formaldehyde for the disinfection of hatching eggs on hatching traits and growth performance of quails. Four treatments, with 240 hatching eggs each, were evaluated: egg immersion in two different levels (2.5% and 5.0%) of garlic extract (garlic-1, garlic-2), formaldehyde fumigation (positive control), and eggs not submitted to disinfection (negative control). Mid-term and late embryomortality, pipped egg, and culled chick rates were not influenced by the (p>0.05). The highest (p<0.05) early embryo mortality rate was detected in the formaldehyde treatment (9.99%), and the lowest in garlic-2 treatment (2.68%). Hatchability of fertile eggs was the lowest in the formaldehyde group (83.78%), followed by the control (85.20%), garlic-1 (87.11%) and garlic-2 (88.72%) groups, respectively. The highest final body weight (5 weeks of age) was obtained in the garlic-2 group (304.1 g), followed by the control (294.13 g), formaldehyde (290.56 g), and garlic-1 (288.44 g), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not influenced by the treatments (p>0.05). The results obtained for hatching traits and live performance parameters indicated that the immersion of eggs in garlic extract may be used as an alternative to formaldehyde fumigation for the disinfection of hatching quail eggs.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different selection methods of parent lines on the body weight of Japanese quails. For this purpose, line M55 was subjected to individual selection for body weight at 5 weeks of age, while a reciprocal recurrent selection method was applied to lines R33 and S55. Selection lasted two generations. Body weight changes, age and weight at sexual maturity, egg weight, and egg production were investigated in the parent generations as well as in the selection lines. Body weight at 5 weeks of age of the parents of the M55, R33 and S55 lines were 299.0, 285.3, and 280.4 g in the first generation, and 314.8, 316.6, and 306.8±3.11 g in the second generation, respectively. The first generation of the M55, R33, and S55 lines presented egg production rates of 73.4, 77.6, and 75.8%, respectively, and egg weights of 12.7, 11.9, and 12.1g, respectively. The second generation of the M55, R33, and S55 lines presented egg production rates of 74.6, 77.8, and 78.3%, and egg weights of 12.72, 12.59, and 12.56 g, respectively. Both egg production and egg weights were significantly different between the first and the second generations (p>0.05). As a result, despite significant increase in body weight of the selection lines, no significant differences in egg production or egg weight were determined among generations. However, reciprocal selection lines of both generations presented higher egg yield than the individual selected line.