The use of purine derivatives/creatinine ratio in spot urine samples as an index of microbial protein supply in Yerli Kara crossbred cattle

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of purine derivatives (PD)/creatinine ratio in spot urine samples as an index of microbial protein supply in Yerli Kara crossbred cattle (YK-C). In Experiment I, response of daily PD excretion to feed intake in YK-C at state farm was measured. In Experiment II, spot urine sampling techniques was applied at state farm and four YK-C bulls were used. In Experiment III, spot urine sampling technique was applied at small-holder farms. There were significant correlations (R² = 0.99) between PD excretion (mmol/day) and digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) (kg/day) in Experiment I, Y = 12.5 (± 0.5) + 19.7 (± 3.5)X (R² = 0.99, n = 16). The equation obtained from Experiment I could be expressed as: Y = − 2.3 (± 0.3) + 0.953 (± 0.06)X, (R² = 0.99, n = 49) where Y is PD excretion (mmol/day) and X is the PDC index. The PDC index was calculated as the molar concentration ratio of PD to creatinine times the metabolic body weight (kg). The corresponding microbial-N values to PDC index of groups I, II and III in developed banding system are 15–25 g/day. Experimentally estimated DOMI was 2.21 ± 0.15 kg/day. Estimated DOMI of groups I, II, and III were 2.8 ± 0.6, 2.6 ± 0.7 and 2.7 ± 0.7 kg/day, respectively. In conclusion, the PDC index in spot urine samples could be used under similar farm condition as an indicator of microbial protein supply in YK-C cattle. Estimated DOMI from PDC index in spot urine samples under defined field conditions may help the development of feeding strategies for YK-C cattle held by small holders.     

Effects of short periods of frequent milking on the persistency of milk yield and SCS in Turkish Saanen goats

The major purpose of this study was to investigate if increasing milking frequency for a short period of 3 weeks had any effects on the persistency of milk yield and the persistency of the somatic cell score (SCS). The methyl green–pyronin method was used for the direct microscopic SCS, converted to SCS for the analyses. Two groups were formed (control, n = 14 and treatment, n = 14). The treatment group was milked four times a day for 3 weeks after weaning. Both groups were milked twice a day outside this 3‐week period, throughout lactation. For the milk yield, persistencies were higher in the treatment group when the distance between the test days was equal to or less than 3 months. The exact opposite was true for the SCS; that is, the treatment group had higher persistencies when the distance between the test days was more than 3 months. Overall, persistencies related to milk yield were higher than persistencies related to SCS. For fat corrected milk yield, treatment persistencies were always higher than the control group persistencies, regardless of the distance between the tests. The same was true for the fat content. Increasing milking frequency for a short period of time (3 weeks) after weaning may help to increase the persistency of the milk yield, fat corrected milk yield and fat content. A 3‐D plot of least squares means indicated that the milk yield tended to show a classical lactation curve in lower SCS values while forming an unstable curve in higher SCS values.     

Influence of plum gum and sodium perborate addition on spruce kraft pulp properties during oxygen delignification

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of plum gum liquor and sodium perborate addition to oxygen delignification process on spruce kraft pulp properties. Yields and viscosity of pulp were protected against oxidative attack, when kappa number of pulp was not changed by adding plum gum to oxygen delignification process. Delignification ratio improved by 7.4% without any viscosity loss by adding only 0.25% sodium perborate as active oxygen with plum gum liquor to the oxygen delignification process. It was found that crystallinity of pulp was improved by adding plum gum and sodium perborate to oxygen delignification. It was also determined that sodium perborate had an affirmative effect on delignification ratio, when plum gum affected pulp viscosity positively.     

Effects of Baking and Boiling on the Nutritional and Antioxidant Properties of Sweet Potato [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ipomoea batatas</Emphasis> (L.) Lam.] Cultivars

The effects of baking and boiling on the nutritional and antioxidant properties of three sweet potato cultivars (Beniazuma, Koganesengan, Kotobuki) cultivated in Turkey were investigated. The samples were analyzed for proximate composition, total phenolic content, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, antiradical activity, and free sugars. The dry matter, protein, and starch contents of the sweet potatoes were significantly changed by the treatments while the ash and crude fiber contents did not differ as significantly. The β-carotene contents of baked and boiled sweet potatoes were lower than those of fresh sweet potatoes; however, the total phenolic and ascorbic acid contents of the baked and boiled sweet potatoes were higher than those of the fresh samples. Generally, the antiradical activity of the sweet potatoes increased with the treatments. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose were quantified as free sugars in all fresh sweet potatoes; however, maltose was determined in the treated samples. In terms of the analyzed parameters, there were no explicit differences among the sweet potato cultivars.