ABSTRACT This study determined the effect of layer age, egg-laying time, cage tier, and cage direction (outward-inward) on egg quality parameters of commercial layer chickens reared in enriched cages. A total of 944 layers (approximately 100 eggs every four weeks, from the 26 to the 58th week) obtained from Lohmann LSL-Classic layers reared at the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Ayhan Şahenk Agricultural Application and Research Centre were analyzed. Laying hen age significantly affected all the egg quality variables (p<0.01). Egg weight, shell-breaking strength, egg surface area, Haugh unit, and yolk color score differed across egg-laying time (p<0.05; p<0.01). There was variability in all the external egg quality traits among the cage tiers (p<0.05), but not for internal egg quality (p>0.05). Furthermore, it was found that cage direction had a significant effect on egg weight, shell thickness, egg surface area, and all the internal egg quality traits, except for yolk color score (p<0.05; p<0.01). In conclusion, our results highlight significant changes in egg quality traits due to layer age, egg-laying time, cage tier, and cage direction. egglaying laying tier outwardinward outward inward (outward-inward cages 94 approximately 10 weeks 2 th week LSLClassic LSL Classic analyzed p<0.01. p001 p p<0.01 . 0 01 (p<0.01) weight shellbreaking breaking strength area unit p<0.05 p005 05 (p<0.05 p<0.01) p<0.05, , (p<0.05) p>0.05. p>0.05 (p>0.05) Furthermore thickness conclusion 9 1 p00 p<0.0 (p<0.01 (p<0.0 p>0.0 (p>0.05 p0 p<0. (p<0. p>0. (p>0.0 p<0 (p<0 p>0 (p>0. p< (p< p> (p>0 (p (p>

ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of housing environment on performance parameters of the Lohmann LSL Classic (LW) and Lohmann Sandy (LS) strains. The deep litter (DL), free access to outdoor Mentha piperita (MP), Petroselinum crispum (PC), and Medicago sativa (MS) housing environments were examined. A total of 260 four-week-old birds were randomly allotted to DL and outdoor plant-associated groups, with four and three replicates, respectively, and 10 birds per replicate. Data collection for weekly feed intake began at 4 weeks until the end of the study. Weekly hen weights were measured from 4 weeks of age until the age of 50% egg production; and then later, at 52 weeks of age. From the day of the first egg until the last day of the study, eggs laid in each nest box tier (upper, middle, bottom, and floor) were recorded and weighed at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m. Housing environment influenced the age at first egg and 50% egg production, hen-day egg production, feed intake during the egg-laying period, feed conversion ratio, average egg weight, and egg size distribution (p<0.01; p<0.05). Age at first egg and 50% egg production, hen-day egg production, feed intake, average egg weight, and egg size distribution varied between strains (p<0.01; p<0.05). Most of the eggs were laid in the morning and on the upper nest box tier (p<0.01). Additionally, average egg weight varied among the egg-laying time and nest box tiers, and most of the eggs laid were in the large egg size (56-65 g) category (p<0.01). It was concluded that access to Medicago sativa offers hens the most ideal environment for production performance. The two strains were quite similar in terms of overall performance outcomes. LW (LW LS (LS DL, , (DL) MP, MP (MP) PC, PC (PC) MS (MS examined 26 fourweekold week old plantassociated plant associated groups replicates respectively 1 replicate 50 later 5 upper, (upper middle bottom floor 900 9 00 9:0 am a m a.m. 1200 12 12:0 noon 300 3 3:0 pm p p.m henday egglaying laying period ratio p<0.01 p001 0 01 (p<0.01 p<0.05. p005 p<0.05 . 05 p<0.05) p<0.01. (p<0.01) Additionally tiers 5665 56 65 (56-6 g outcomes (DL (MP (PC 2 90 9: a.m 120 12: 30 3: p<0.0 p00 (p<0.0 566 6 (56- p<0. p0 (p<0. (56 p<0 (p<0 (5 p< (p< ( (p

Abstract In this study, 240 day-old guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) keets were utilized. They were divided into four treatment groups each containing 20 chicks and were randomly distributed into 12 mobile coops placed in a 100-m2 grazing area. Guinea fowl chicks were randomly allocated to 4 treatment diets containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% dry oregano leaf (DOL) supplements. Nonlinear Gompertz and logistic growth models were used to estimate the mean age-body weight. The growth curve parameters for these models and the following characteristics for fowl were estimated: β0, the asymptotic weight parameter; β the scaling parameter; β2, the instantaneous per week growth rate; weight at age of inflection point (WIP); maximum weight gain at inflection point (MWG); and age at the inflection point (AIP). The goodness of fit (GF) for the models was assessed using the following variables: coefficients of determination (r2), mean square error (MSE), adjusted determination coefficient (ADR2), Akaike's information criteria (AIC), chi-square test (Chi.Sq2) and residual standard deviation (RSD). The different nonlinear function results of the individual data indicated that supplementation of diets with DOL had no significant effects on growth curve parameters when compared with the control diet. Greater correlation values were estimated among β0, β1, β2, WIP, MWG and AIP in the Gompertz equation, and similar results were estimated in the logistic equation, but there was no significant correlation between β2-β1 and β2-MWG. According to the results obtained from the GF, high r2 and ADR2 were estimated in Gompertz and logistic equations (above 0.96).

Resumen En este estudio, se utilizaron las gallinas de Guinea (Numidea meleagris) de 240 días de vida. Se dividieron en cuatro grupos de tratamiento cada uno con 20 pollitos y fueron distribuidos al azar en 12 gallineros móviles colocadas en todos y cada uno de los 100 m2 de área de pastoreo. Gallinas de Guinea fueron asignadas al azar a 4 tratamientos (dietas) que contengan 0%, 5%, 10% y 15% de suplemento de hojas de orégano seco (DOL). Modelos no lineales de Gompertz y modelos logísticos fueron utilizados para estimar la edad media-peso vivo. El parámetro de curva de crecimiento de estos modelos y sus características para la gallina β0 es el parámetro de peso asintótico, β1 es el parámetro de escala, β2 es la tasa de crecimiento instantáneo por semana, el peso a la edad del punto de inflexión (WIP), el aumento de peso máximo en el punto de inflexión (MWG), la edad en el punto de inflexión (AIP). La bondad de ajuste (GF) de los modelos evaluados usando Coeficientes de Determinación (r2), El error cuadrático medio (MSE), el coeficiente de determinación ajustado (ADR2), los criterios de información de Akaike (AIC), la prueba de Pearson (ChiSq2) y la desviación estándar residual (RSD). Los diferentes resultados de las funciones no lineales de los datos individuales indicaron que la suplementación de dietas con DOL no tuvo efectos significativos en los parámetros de la curva de crecimiento en comparación con la dieta de control. Se estimaron valores de correlación más altos entre β0, β1, β2, WIP, MWG y AIP en la ecuación de Gompertz y un resultado similar estimado en la ecuación logística, pero no hay correlación significativa entre β2-β1 y β2-MWG. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos de GF, r2 alta y ADR2 se estimaron en la ecuación de Gompertz y logística por encima de 0,96.

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of hatching egg weight of broiler parent stocks on hatching results, chick performance, carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and some blood stress parameters. Eggs were divided into 3 egg weight groups (55.0 to 60.0 g (light), 60.1 to 65.0 g (medium) and 65.1 to 70.0 g (heavy)) for the experiments. After incubation, mixed-gender broiler chicks from the hatcher were placed into 27 grower pens (2x1 m) with 9 replications for 3 weight groups by using randomized block design. Each pen had 25 broiler chicks. Therefore, 225 chicks were used for each group and 675 chicks in total. The experiment was designed with nine replicates. Chi-square test, variance analysis test and Duncan multiple range test were used during statistical analysis. Hatching egg weight significantly affected egg shell thickness (p=0.042), egg weight loss on 18th day of incubation (p<0.001), number of healthy chick (p=0.001) and deformed chicks (p=0.003), hatchability (p=0.003), hatchability yield (p=0.002), hatching weight and 7 day chick body weight (p=0.001), fresh carcass yields (p=0.002), and cooled carcass yields (p<0.001), blood triglyceride level (p=0.031), back toe relative asymmetry (p=0.032) and back toe fluctuating asymmetry (p=0.038). It was concluded in the present study that medium-weight eggs yielded better hatching results and the chicks of medium-weight eggs also yielded better outcomes with regards to other investigated parameters.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to compare edible giblets weight, tibial bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC) of two slow-growing broiler genotypes (Hubbard S757; S757 and Hubbard Grey Barred JA; GB-JA) reared with outdoor access, and to determine the relationship between these variables. Day-old chicks (straight-run) of the genotypes S757 (n=120) and GB-JA (n=120) were housed for 98 days. Each genotype was assigned to six pens of 20 birds each. Birds were reared in indoor floor pens and moving shelters with outdoor access (during daylight hours). Absolute body (BW), heart (HW), spleen (SW), liver (LW), gizzard (GW), and abdominal fat pad (AFW) weights of the genotype S757 and male birds were statistically higher than that of the genotype GB-JA and female birds. Genotype statistically affected relative HW, whereas sex affected relative GW. Although BMD values were not influenced by genotype or sex, S757 birds and males presented statistically higher tibial BMC, lean, lean+BMC, total mass values (g) and area (cm2) compared with GB-JA birds and females. BW, HW, SW, LW, GW and AFW were positively correlated with BMC obtained by DXA. In conclusion, the measured traits influenced by genetic strain and sex. The use of the Hubbard S757 genotype in organic production systems with outdoor access is recommend.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effects of eggshell color of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) eggs on eggshell quality and hatchery results. The highest mean grey value (MGV), integrated density (ID), lightness (L*) and Hue angle (H*) values were obtained in eggs with lighter eggshell color. The effects of color difference (DE*) value levels on egg characteristics were evaluated. Eggshell color presented different (p<0.01) MGV, ID, L*, redness (a*), yellowness (b*), H* and Chroma (C*) values. Eggs with lighter color presented thicker eggshells and lower egg weight loss on day 25 of incubation (p<0.05) compared with intermediate and darker eggs. Eggshell color did not have any significant effect on fertility and hatchability (p>0.05). In conclusion, under the conditions of the present study, eggshell color influenced eggshell thickness and weight loss, but not hatching parameters of guinea fowl eggs. Further studies on this subject should be carried out.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) root extract (PGRE) on egg production and egg quality characteristics of hens at the beginning of their laying period (20 weeks old). Four groups of commercial hens (Atak-S; Turkish native hybrid) were fed with diets containing 0 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg and 150 mg PGRE/kg. Experimental results indicated that dietary PGRE had no effect on feed intake, feed efficiency, egg mass (EM) or egg production parameters. Over 12 weeks, hen-day egg production (HDP) of the groups was 73.5%, 74.8%, 69.2% and 79.0%, respectively. The effect of different levels of PGRE on egg weight, shape index (SI), specific gravity, shell thickness, Haugh Unit (HU), yolk index (YI) and albumen index (AI) was not statistically significant during the entire experiment. Egg yolk colour was conspicuously lower in the 100 mg and 150 mg PGRE/kg groups than in the control. The L*, a* and b*, hue (H) and chroma (C*) values for eggshell colour were not significantly different among the groups, except for the colour difference (ΔΕ*, (L²+a²+b²)¹/2), where values in PGRE groups were higher than in the control group. The trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total phenolics concentration of PGRE were 598 ± 1.841 mmol trolox/kg, 15.45 ± 0.457 mmol TEAC/kg and 1.02 ± 0.03 g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/kg, respectively. Serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride concentration were similar in the PGRE supplemented groups and the control. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation with PGRE did not affect the productivity performance traits and egg quality of hens at the beginning of the laying period.

Background/aims: the sigmoid colon is the most frequent site for a volvulus. In this report, we review our experience with sigmoid colon volvulus. Methodology: we present our experience of 81 cases of sigmoid volvulus admitted to our department. Results: preoperative endoscopic volvulus detortion was attempted in all patients, and in 39 of them the procedure was successful. The success rate of endoscopic detortion for sigmoid colon volvulus with a flexible colonoscope (60%) was higher than with a rigid rectosigmoidoscope (42%). In 19 of these 39 non-operatively devolvulated patients, sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis was performed within 7-10 days after reduction, but 20 patients did not accept the elective operation after a non-operative treatment. Among the 61 patients undergoing urgent or elective operation for sigmoid volvulus, there were 17 laparotomies laparatomies with only detortion, 19 resections with elective anastomosis, 6 resections with primary anastomosis, and 19 resections with a Hartmann’s pouch. There were 9 deaths (21%) among 42 patients who underwent an emergency operation, and one (5.2%) among the 19 patients who had elective surgery died because of a cerebral embolus. Conclusions: initial therapy with endoscopy affords decompression and an adequate preparation of patients for surgical resection, and a flexible colonoscope has notable advantages over rigid instruments for the detortion process.