Genetic parameters of slaughter and carcase traits in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

1. Genetic parameters of slaughter and carcase traits were estimated for 5-week-old Japanese quail reared under the one-to-one sire and dam pedigree recorded system. Data were analysed using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) with relationship matrix. Records of 1244 animals from 119 sires and 156 dams were analysed. 2. An individual animal model was used which had the animals' genetic effect as the only random factor. Heritability and standard errors of slaughter, cold carcase, breast, leg, wing, others, liver weights and dressing percentage were 0·40 ± 0·07, 0·55 ± 0·07, 0·58 ± 0·07, 0·54 ± 0·07, 0·49 ± 0·07, 0·42 ± 0·06, 0·13 ± 0·04 and 0·21 ± 0·05 respectively. Moderate to high heritability for most of the studied traits suggested that selection to increase or decrease these traits will be successful. 3. The strongest genetic correlation was found between slaughter, carcase and breast weights (0·97-0·87). These high genetic correlations provide an opportunity to select for breast weight on the basis of 5-week weight. 4. It can be concluded that carcase weight and 5-week weight of quail can be included in a selection index to increase the weights of valuable carcass parts.     

Does the length of time dried distillers' grain with solubles substitution for soybean meal affect physiological indicators and meat quality in finishing lambs?

This study examined how inclusion of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in finishing lamb diets for different periods affects some physiological indicators and meat quality. A total of 40 male lambs were divided into four groups according to feeding regimen during the 120-day finishing period as follows: C120: no DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D120: DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D75: no DDGS included in diet for 45 days + DDGS included in diet for 75 days; D45: no DDGS included in diet for 75 days + DDGS included in diet for 45 days. Dietary inclusion rate of DDGS was 27.5%. Fattening performance and rumen parameters were not affected by treatment. Feeding regimens had no significant effect on meat quality except the instrumental tenderness and juiciness score. DDGS fed lambs had higher level of total trans fatty acids and n-6/n-3 ratio in meat. 10t-C18:1, 11t-C18:1 and 9c,11t conjugated linoleic acid contents of adipose tissue were higher in all the DDGS groups compared with C120 lambs (p < .001). These results suggest that soybean meal can be replaced with corn DDGS in lamb diets for up to 120 days during the finishing period with no adverse effects on some physiological response feedlot performance and meat quality.     

Prevalence and economic significance of bovine hypodermosis in Afyonkarahisar province of Turkey

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and economic losses due to in cattle of hypodermosis between May 2008 and April 2009 in Afyonkarahisar province of Turkey. A total of 6,598 cattle—3,498 in pasture and 3,100 in slaughterhouse—were examined for hypodermosis. One hundred ninety-five out of 6,598 cattle (2.96%) were found positive. Concerning this infestation rate, the prevalence of hypodermosis in field was 5.3%, whereas the prevalence was 0.3% in slaughter house. Hypoderma bovis and Hypoderma lineatum were recorded in slaughter house. First-stage Hypoderma spp. larvae weren’t found in cattle organs in slaughterhouse. The annual economic loss on skins is estimated to be about 18,288 TL (currency exchange rate is 1 USD:1.499 TL).     

Immunohistochemical detection of fungal elements in the tissues of goslings with pulmonary and systemic aspergillosis

Nineteen goslings with pulmonary and systemic aspergillosis were the subject of the study. The lungs and air sacs were the main sites affected by the disease, and were generally characterised by diffuse yellowish-white granulomas. In 7 cases with pulmonary and air-sac involvement the granulomas were scattered to the serosal linings of the gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tracts, to the liver, spleen and kidneys, and in two cases also to the bursa of Fabricius, musculus (m.) longus colli and adventitia of aorta. The granulomas were often characterised by a necrotic centre surrounded by heterophils, macrophages, lymphocyte and plasma cells, and in late granulomas by multinucleated foreign-body giant cells, and again by an outer thin fibrous capsule. Numerous fungal hyphae were found within the necrotic debris of the granulomas by Gridley and PAS staining techniques. Immunohistochemistry reliably confirmed aspergillosis in all of the cases. Fungal elements in the lungs of goslings severely affected by the disease stained heavily within the centre of the granulomas, whereas few antigens reacted in the chronic cases. Fungal fragments, which were not discernible using routine fungal stains, reacted clearly in the cytoplasm of macrophages and giant cells. Thus, although fungal elements within the granulomas were histologically indicative of aspergillosis, immunohistochemistry also had to be applied to obtain a definitive diagnosis of the disease and to differentiate it from many of the filamentous fungi.     

EFFECT OF PREHARVEST SPRAYS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SUCROSE ON CRACKING AND QUALITY OF ‘BURLAT’ SWEET CHERRY FRUIT

The aim of the study was to examine impact of preharvest sprays of calcium (Ca) and sucrose on splitting and quality of ‘Burlat’ sweet cherry fruit. The study was carried out during 2009–2010 in Poland and Turkey, on mature trees planted at a moderate density on coarse- and medium-textured soils. Sweet cherries were sprayed with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and/or sucrose at a rate of 5 kg of each material per ha, using ca. 1000 L of water. In Poland, sprays of CaCl₂ and/or sucrose were applied 8–14 h before each rain, starting 21 d before harvest, whereas in Turkey the spray treatments were made schematically: 7, 14 and 21 d before harvest. Sprays of water were treated as the control. The results showed that preharvest sprays of CaCl₂ and/or sucrose did not affect yield, mean fruit weight, and fruit acidity. Sprays of CaCl₂ increased fruit Ca status, and simultaneously reduced fruit cracking in an orchard or laboratory test. In the trial performed in Turkey, part of fruit sprayed with CaCl₂ (<5%) had spray deposit on the peel. Sucrose sprays did not affect fruit cracking. In one year of the study in Turkey, sucrose sprays increased soluble solids concentration of fruit; however, part of fruit treated with sucrose (<2%) had spray deposit on the skin.     

Characterization of Resistant Starch Samples Prepared from Two High‐Amylose Maize Starches Through Debranching and Heat Treatments

The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of debranching, autoclaving‐storing cycles, and drying processes (oven‐drying or freeze‐drying) on RS contents, thermal, pasting, and functional properties of high‐amylose maize starches (Hylon V and Hylon VII). The resistant starch (RS) contents increased (≤57.8%) with increasing autoclaving‐storing cycles. RS contents of oven‐dried samples were higher than those of freeze‐dried samples due to ongoing retrogradation of starch during oven drying at 50°C. Debranching caused a significant decrease in peak transition temperature and enthalpy values as compared with native starches. Solubility and water binding values of RS preparations were higher than those of native starches. Addition of native and autoclaved samples had improving effect on emulsion properties of albumin. Cold viscosity values of oven‐dried samples were lower as compared with freeze‐dried samples; this might be due to higher number of H‐bonds in the oven‐dried samples expected to be formed during drying. Debranching and autoclaving‐storing cycles caused decreases in peak, breakdown, and final viscosity values. The results of present study showed that debranching and heat treatments increased the RS contents and improved the functional properties of high‐amylose maize starches.     

Studies on the parasitoid complex of Choristoneura murinana (Hbn.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) in Turkey

The parasitoid complex of Choristoneura murinana (Hbn.), a pest of Abies cilicica Carr., was studied in Isparta, Turkey. Shoots and needles of A. cilicica with C. murinana larvae and pupae were collected and examined under laboratory conditions in 2002 and 2003. As a result of this study, 14 parasitoid species of C. murinana were determined: Apanteles obscurus Nees. (Hym.: Braconidae), Brachymeria intermedia Nees (Hym.: Chalcididae), Mesopolobus mediterraneus Mayr, Mesopolobus dubius Walker, Pteromalus chrysos Walker, Pteromalus sp. (Hym.: Pteromalidae), Monodontomerus aereus Walker (Hym.: Torymidae), Itoplectis maculator (Fabricius), Apophua bipunctoria Thunberg, Triclistus globulipes Desvignes, Dirophanes maculicornis Stephens, Hyposoter sp., Dusona sp. (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) and Aprostocetus sp. (Hym.: Eulophidae). In the studied parasitoid complex, A. obscurus, B. intermedia and I. maculator were the most important in reducing pest numbers. The level of total parasitism of the C. murinana was 19.4% in 2002 and 22.3% in 2003.     

Estradiol is concentrated in tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons of the hypothalamus

Localization of [3H]estradiol in tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons of rat brain was shown by a combined technique of autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. [3H]Estradiol was concentrated in the nuclei of tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons in the nucleus arcuatus, nucleus periventricularis hypothalami, and the zona incerta. These results suggest that estradiol acts directly on dopamine-producing neurons of the tuberoinfundibular system and incertohypothalamic system.     

Effects of supplementing galacto-oligosaccharides, Yucca schidigera or nisin on rumen methanogenesis, nitrogen and energy metabolism in sheep

The effects of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), Yucca schidigera (YS) or nisin (NS), as additives to a basal diet of grass silage and concentrate, on rumen methanogenesis, nitrogen and energy metabolism were conducted using four rumen cannulated wethers in a 4×4 Latin square design. Four treatments comprised basal diet (control), basal diet+20 g GOS, basal diet+120 ppm YS, basal diet+3 mg/kg BW^0.75 of NS. Apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were similar in all treatment diets. Animals fed YS had lower N losses in urine and total N losses resulting in a higher retained N. Ruminal pH values ranged from 6.33 to 6.47 and was significantly (P<0.05) altered by treatment. Sheep given YS had the lowest NH₃-N concentration, moderate in control and GOS, and the highest in NS. The GOS supplemented sheep had lower (P<0.01) proportion of acetic acid and higher (P<0.01) proportion of propionic acid compared to those fed the control diet. Microbial nitrogen supply was higher (P<0.05) in GOS supplemented sheep than those given control, YS and NS diets. Relative to control, YS and NS treatments, GOS reduced (P<0.05) methane production (l/kg BW^0.75). These results indicated that natural products have the potential to be used as manipulators of rumen fermentation.     

Influence of methionine and dithioerythritol on sperm motility, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacities during liquid storage of ram semen

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methionine and dithioerythritol, added to the Tris extender, on ram sperm motility and LPO (lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant capacities during liquid storage up to 72 h at 5 °C. Ejaculates collected from five Merino rams, were evaluated and pooled at 37 °C. This study included two experiments. In experiment 1, each pooled ejaculate was divided into four equal aliquots and diluted (37 °C) with the base extender, containing 0 (control), 1, 2 and 4 mM methionine, at a final concentration of approximately 4 × 10⁸ sperms/ml (single step dilution), in a 15-ml plastic centrifuge tube. In experiment 2, dithioerythritol, 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 to 5 °C in a cold cabinet, and maintained at 5 °C. Sperm motility and LPO and total glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) capacities were determined at 5 °C for periods of 0, 24, 48 and 72 h of liquid storage.The extender supplemented with 1 mM methionine led to higher motility percentages (77.0 ± 1.2%), in comparison to the control group (66.0 ± 4.9%), during 72 h of liquid storage (P < 0.05). As regards dithioerythritol, it did not statistically improve the motility rates for any of the storage times at 5 °C. In biochemical assays, differences in LPO levels between the groups with antioxidants and the control groups were not statistically significant. Compared to the control group, no significant difference was observed in GSH and GPx activities following the addition of methionine, during 72 h of storage. Total GSH and GPx activities did not increase significantly upon supplementation with 0.5 and 1 mM of dithioerythritol, compared to the control group, at any of the time points (P > 0.05). Dithioerythritol at 2 mM led (P < 0.01) to elevating GSH activity, compared to the control group, during 72 h of liquid storage. GPx activity was approximately 10 times higher for 2 mM of dithioerythritol (P < 0.001), compared to that of the control group at all time points.The question regarding the sustainability of sperm survival, LPO and antioxidant capacities following liquid storage of semen remains unanswered. Further studies are required for a better understanding of the biochemical changes and to obtain more information on the determination of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacities during cooled storage of ram semen.