In recent years, pet owners have been making significant efforts to ensure the well-being of their animals. One straightforward approach to enhance their welfare involves greater attention to nutrition. Consequently, pet owners have become increasingly sensitive regarding the food they provide for their pets. The aim of this study is to examine this sensitivity by investigating the extent to which cat and dog owners prioritize quality attributes and ingredients when selecting pet food. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with pet owners (n = 519) who visited veterinary clinics, using a random sampling method. Of the participants, 51.25% were male and 48.75% were female, with the highest participation observed in the 18–34 age group (60.50%). Among the respondents, 64.93% owned cats, while 35.07% owned dogs. Additionally, 66.67% of pet owners reported using both wet and dry food. When selecting pet food, 42.58% of participants stated that they relied on recommendations from veterinarians. “Pet preference (palatability)” clearly emerged as the most important selection criterion, receiving the highest average score (3.90) and highlighting its decisive influence on purchasing decisions as owners appeared to prioritize what their pets liked most. In contrast, “visual appeal of the food” received the lowest score (2.47). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found regarding whose recommendation influenced the purchase decision. Moreover, a negative correlation was identified between price sensitivity and other selection criteria, suggesting that price was not a primary driver in most participants’ decisions and became less important as quality-related factors gained priority. Overall, pet preference (palatability) stood out as the dominant driver of purchasing decisions.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of body condition scores (BCSs) on oxidative stress and thiol/disulphide homeostasis (TDH) in Holstein pregnant heifers during the transition period. A total of 36 healthy primiparous heifers in the 7th month of pregnancy, all approaching their first calving, were included in the study. The animals were allocated into three equal groups based on their BCS. The BCS measurements were performed 21 days pre‐calving and on the 21st day post‐calving. Pre‐calving and post‐calving serum levels of total thiol (TTL), native thiol (NTL) and disulphide (DSF) were quantified using standard techniques. The study revealed significant differences in BCS, TTL and DSF values among groups both pre‐ and post‐calving ( p < 0.05), whereas the changes in NTL values were statistically insignificant ( p  > 0.05). Overall, a decrease in BCS and NTL levels was observed, accompanied by an increase in TTL and DSF levels. Correlation analysis within groups indicated low‐level relationships between changes in BCS and TTL, NTL and DSF levels. Consequently, regression analysis did not yield any statistically significant predictive models. The results showed a differential response between the loss of BCS and the oxidative stress during the periparturient period. The increased DSF levels observed during late pregnancy and early lactation indicate a deficiency in antioxidant substances in the animals. Therefore, supplementing the ration with a premix containing antioxidant substances during the transition period may provide significant benefits in terms of maintaining the BCS balance, animal welfare and herd health.

In order to investigate the relationship between some environmental factors and the number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy with milk yield, data of 90 healthy Holstein breed dairy cows in a private dairy farm in Karapınar district of Konya province were taken. For the utilization of the data, age, number of artificial inseminations, lactation yield, calving season and sequence of lactation records were taken from the herd management program in the enterprise and analysed. As a result of the analysis, the number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy in 2016 was 1.79 and lactation milk yield was 10079,41 kg; the number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy in 2017 was 2.16 and lactation milk yield was 9767.94 kg. There was a statistically significant relationship between the number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy and milk yield during lactation period in both years. As a result, the increase in the number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy negatively affected the average milk yield of lactation period. Genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a major role in this effect.

This study investigated the effects of pre-calving body condition scores (BCS) on milk yield and calf birth weights in pregnant Holstein heifers. For this purpose, data from 66 primiparous heifers, their first lactation milk yields, and the birth weights of 66 calves born from these heifers were analyzed. Two different rations consisting of concentrate feed and roughage with 36% HP and 1718 kcal/kg ME were used in the feeding of the animals pre- and post-calving. Approximately three weeks pre- calving, the heifers were classified into three groups based on their BCS as low (BCS ≤ 3.00), moderate (BCS 3.25 ≤ 3.50), and high (BCS ≥3.75). To determine changes in body condition, a second scoring was performed immediately post-calving. The differences between pre- and post-calving BCS values were calculated, and the BCS changes for each animal were identified. The effects of these changes on milk yield and calf birth weight were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). According to the results, BCS at calving had no significant effect on 305-day adjusted lactation milk yield (p>0.05). Additionally, pre-calving BCS and post-calving BCS changes did not affect calf birth weights (p>0.05). However, the findings indicated that a post-calving BCS loss of 0.50–0.75 points significantly increased milk yield (p