This study investigated the laying performance, egg quality, and egg yolk fatty acids (FAs) and cholesterol content in layer hens housed with free access to chicory- and/or white clover-vegetated areas. During a 16-week study, 400 Lohmann Brown hens (32 weeks old) housed with free outdoor access were allocated randomly into four groups, each with four replicates of 25 hens. Control hens were fed a conventional diet with free access to a soil area (C), whereas other hens were fed on a conventional diet with free access to a chicory (CI)- or white clover (TR)-vegetated area or a CI and TR mixture (MIX)-vegetated area. The C hens consumed more concentrate feed (p = 0.018) than the TR and MIX hens, which had a higher herbage intake than the CI birds (p < 0.001). The C hens produced eggs with a thicker shell than those in the other treatment groups (p = 0.013). Compared with C, the saturated FAs of egg yolk decreased for MIX (p = 0.010). The polyunsaturated FAs were higher in the MIX eggs than in the C and TR eggs (p < 0.001). Although FAs were distributed in all quadrants of the principal component analysis (PCA), three main FA profiles could be identified based on the loadings of natural groupings in the PC2 versus PC1 plot. The present study shows clear evidence for the contribution of herbage to the hen diet without affecting laying performance. In addition, the FA composition of the CI and MIX vegetation contributed to the production of eggs with preferred FA attributes, such as polyunsaturated FAs and a favourable n-6 to n-3 ratio.

This study aimed to determine the effect of nutritional values of the "styrax tree" (Styrax officinalis L.) on in vitro gas production, organic matter digestibility (OMD), and metabolic energy (ME) content. In this study, styrax leaf samples were collected for analysis in three different periods: May, July and September. According to the analysis results, crude ash (CA), dry matter (DM), crude fat (CF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) values, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increased in September compared to May and July. In September, compared to May, CA has increased by 23 %, DM by 64 %, CM by 30.5 %, ADF by 9.8 %, and NDF by 9.8 %. During the vegetation period, there was an increase in dry matter content in parallel with maturation. The dry matter content of Styrax tree leaves (STL) increased in May (30 %), July (40 %) and September (50 %). Crude protein amounts were found 19 % in May, 17 % in July, and 15 % in September. As the STL grows, decreases in CP, which plays a role in plant growth, and increases in the cell membrane were observed. The CF content in STL changed to 3.2 %, 4.4 %, and 4.3 % in May, July, and September, respectively, with the highest value determined in July and very close to the September value. CA content in styrax tree plants varied by 8.58 % in May, in July by 9.86 %, and in September by 10.56 %. As the amount of dry matter increased according to the periods, the amount of CA also increased. NDF and ADF levels increased in parallel with the vegetation period's development in STL. NDF was found to be 37.5 %, 39.0 %, and 41.5 % according to the periods. ADF amount was found 27 % in May, 28.5 % in July, and 30 % in September. Metabolic energy varied between 8.86 and 10.06 (MJ/kg KM) depending on the periods. When organic matter digestion levels were examined, it was seen that the highest OMD was in July with 58.71 %. Gas production was determined by incubations of 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, and the maximum gas measurement value was in September, July, and May, respectively. As a result of the study, STL can be a good alternative feed source for ruminants when adequate amounts of high-quality feed materials cannot be provided.

Backround: This study was carried out to determine the nutritional value and methane production potential of Phacelia tanacetifolia plant in different growth stages in April-May year in the ecological conditions of the province of Adiyaman in Turkey. Methods: Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) plant samples were collected with four replications in four different stages, pre-flowering, early flowering, mid-flowering and end of flowering (seeding). The nutrients of the feed samples were determined. The gas production was measured after 24 hours of incubation of the forage with rumen fluid. Result: The effect of harvest time on chemical composition was highly significant. In vitro gas production was lowest in stage I. and highest in II. The methane (CH4) lowest production values were found in the 1st stage, whereas the highest value was observed in the 4th stage (seed-binding stage), where the difference was statistically significant. ME was 7.49, 9.54, 8.90 and 8.61 MJ/kg DM respectively and the difference between the stages was statistically significant. It was concluded that Phacelia tanacetifolia, which is known as an important nectar source in the world and in Turkey. It is appropriate to harvest the phacelia plants in the second stage, i.e., at early flowering for higher ME contents and OMD.

One hundred, one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated in five treatment groups; control (100 mg/kg Vit E), 20 mg/kg Vit E, 20 mg/kg Vit E +Economase; 40 mg/kg Vit E, 40 mg/kg Vit E+Economase. The birds were fed ad libitum for 42 days in individual cages. Body weight gain, food intake, food efficiency (gain/food intake) and carcass weight were measured. Breast and thigh meats were sampled for TBARS evaluation, blood samples were taken for biochemical parameters. No significant differences between growth performances of treatment groups were observed. Drip loss was not affected significantly (P>0.05), but water holding capacity was lower (P<0.05) at 20 mg/kg Vit E in contrast to the control and the other treatments groups receiving 20 or 40 mg/kg vit E with Economase. Blood total antioxidant capacity in control groups was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the treatment groups. TBARS values of the groups receiving 100 mg/kg vitamin E or 40 mg/kg Vitamin E plus Economase found to be lower. The results suggest that vitamin E level in the commercial broiler diets could be reduced to 40 mg/kg using Economase at 200 mg/kg without loss in the growth performance, meat quality and also oxidative stability.

In this study, samples were collected from natural pastures in the districts of Haliliye and Eyyübiye, where pasture-based sheep breeding is practised in the Tek Tek Mountains region, at different times (1 March, 1 April, 1 May, 1 June, 2020). For the purpose of sampling, quadrats measuring 50 x 50 cm (equivalent to 0.25 m²) were positioned in four randomly selected areas at four different points in time. The grasses were manually harvested at ground level. The objective of this study was to ascertain the dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent insoluble fibre (NDF) and acid detergent insoluble fibre (ADF) values in the pasture samples collected. In addition, during the study, the live weights of lambs from 30-31 lambs (Pasture1 F/M:18/12; Pasture2 F/M:15/15 Pasture3 F/M:15/15 Pasture4 F/M:15/16) reared in these areas and born during the same period were recorded at the start and end of the grazing period. The data obtained from the research were subjected to analysis according to the Least Squares method. The Duncan multiple comparison test was employed to ascertain the existence of any significant differences between the groups. The results of the analysis of the raw nutrient contents of four different pasture regions in March, April, May and June were presented. Accordingly, the levels of DM, CA, CP, CF, NDF and ADF were determined to be between 24.3 and 43.3, 7.64 and 10.48, 7.72 and 14.85, 2.28 and 2.64, 33.34 and 60.88, and 28.66 and 41.97, respectively. While the average DM, NDF and ADF levels increased over the periods, the CP level decreased. The greatest increase in live weight was observed in male lambs in pasture 3 herd. The highest live weight gain in female lambs was detected in the herd in pasture4. It can be posited that the aforementioned values pertaining to live weight gain in pasture-based feeding will enable breeders to augment their production through supplementary feeding.

This study aimed to determine the levels of aflatoxins in beef and dairy cow supplied by feed manufacturing plants in the Diyarbakır region, accounting for a significant proportion of cattle production in Southeast Anatolia. In the study, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), and Aflatoxin G2 (AFG2) levels were determined in dairy cattle feed and fattening cattle feed. The toxic effects of aflatoxins on animal organisms are listed as AFB1, AFG1, AFB2, and AFG2 from largest to smallest. Regional feeds were evaluated based on the limits of AFB1 (≥0.005 ppm) in dairy cow feed and AFB1 (≥0.02 ppm) in cattle feed. By the Regulation on Unwanted Substances in Feeds (Regulation No: 2014/11), contamination values were considered in terms of total aflatoxin levels in feeds. According to the determined mycotoxin contamination levels, the average aflatoxin level in cattle milk feed was 0.0036 ppm and in cattle feed was 0.0034 ppm. This study emphasizes the importance of storage conditions and preservation methods of feeds and raw materials.