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This study was performed during the anestrous, involving 140 Akkaraman Kangal ewes whose lambs had died in the neonatal stage due to pneumonia and enteritis. Intravaginal sponge containing progesterone was placed to the animals (Group 1, n = 70) on day 0 and removed after 7 days, following which 263 µg PGF2α and 500 IU eCG were administered to the sheep. Ram introduction was performed for 7 days (days 8-14), starting from the day after the removal of the intravaginal sponge (day 8). The animals in Group 2 (n = 70) were not exposed to any treatment. Ram introduction was performed simultaneously in both the groups. To determine the reproductive response, reproductive parameters such as estrous, pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and embryonic mortality rates, number of births, number of offspring, and fertility, as well as their economic implications, were compared between groups. Each reproductive parameter exhibited a statistical difference between groups. An economically positive trend was observed in the study group compared with the control group. It was concluded that in case of lamb losses in commercial farms that derive profit from lambing, pregnancy of ewes can be achieved via sexual stimulation without waiting for the next breeding season.

No abstract

Son yıllarda artan maliyetler koyun yetiştiricilerini oldukça fazla zorlamaktadır. Kangal koyunu yetiştiricileri ise süt ve koyunyünü üretiminden tamamen vazgeçmiş olup yegâne gelirlerini kuzu üretimi üzerine kurguladıkları için bu zorlu ortamda var oluş mücadelesi vermektedirler. Bu çalışmada Kangal koyunlarında iyi kurgulanmış reproduktif yönetimler uygulanabilmesi için üreme sezonunda çiftleştirmelerin toplulaştırılması ve bir gebelikten maksimum verim elde etmek için farklı senkronizasyon metotları uygulanmıştır. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın materyalini mevsim dışı gebe kalmış (ilkbahar aylarında çiftleşmiş) Eylül- Ekim aylarında doğumunu gerçekleştirmiş ve kuzularını yaklaşık 60-75 gün emzirmiş multipar (birden fazla kez doğurmuş) 160 baş koyun ve çiftleştirmelerde kullanılan 16 baş koç oluşturmuştur. Grup 1’deki (n:60) deki hayvanlara 0.gün 1. PGF2α (263 µg Kloprostenol sodyum) enjeksiyonu yapılmış ve 9. Günde 2. PGF2α ile birlikte eş zamanlı olarak eCG (500 IU) enjeksiyonu yapılmıştır. Grup 2’deki (n:55) hayvanlara 0.gün eş zamanlı olarak PGF2α ve eCG enjeksiyonları yapılmış ve 7. Günde 2. PGF2α enjeksiyonu yapılmıştır. Grup 3’teki (n:37) hayvanlara ise 9 gün arayla çift doz PGF2α enjeksiyonu yapılmıştır. Bu uygulamaların östrüs gösterme, gebe kalma, çoğul gebe kalma, embriyonik ölüm, doğum sayısı, yavru sayısı ve verimlilik gibi reproduktif parametreler üzerine etkinlikleri değerlendirildi. Farklı senkronizasyon yöntemlerinin östrüs, gebelik, embriyonik ölüm, doğum ve yavru sayısı üzerine oluşturdukları fark istatistiki (p >0,05) olarak anlamlı bulunmadı. Grup 2'deki çoğul gebeliklerin Grup 3’e göre istatistiki anlamda yüksek bulundu (P=0,048). Gruplardaki gerçekleşen doğum başına düşen yavru sayılarına (verimlilik) bakıldığında Grup1, Grup 2 ve Grup 3’te sırasıyla 1,3333, 1,5278 ve 1,1667 şeklinde bulundu. İstatistiki değerlendirmede Grup 2’nin verimliliği Grup 3’ten belirgin şekilde yüksek bulundu (P = 0.03) Bu sonuçlar ışığında Kangal ırkında standart 9 gün aralıklarla çift doz PGF2α uygulama aralığını 7 güne indirgenerek ilk uygulamada eCG kombinasyonu ile çoğul gebelik ve gebelik başına yavru verimliliğini artırılabildiği belirlenmiştir. Bu uygulamanın üreme sezonunda reproduktif verimi artıracak bir senkronizasyon metodu olabileceği kanaatine varıldı.

Measurements of blood glucose concentrations are frequently used to diagnose and monitor diseases in sheep. Portable blood glucometers are widely used in human medicine because of their practicality. However, there are not enough studies on the accuracy of these devices in sheep. In this study, it was aimed to determine the changes in the measurement values of two different portable blood glucometers and biochemistry autoanalyzer devices. The study was carried out on a total of 200 Kangal sheep, 17-18 months old, healthy and sick. According to the clinical examination, 35 healthy sheep (control group) and 12 patients whose hematocrit and total protein values were higher than the reference values were included in the study (patient group). Glucose concentrations measured with portable glucometers were compared with the result obtained using the biochemistry autoanalyzer device. The agreement between the measured values was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis and Bland-Altman plots. In addition, Tukey's test was performed to evaluate glucose measurement between groups. In the study, it was determined as -3.63% and 6.83% between Optium Xceed, On Call Pluss and biochemistry autoanalyzer device in group 1, respectively. Among group 2 animals, 6.08% and 9.66% were detected. As a result, it is necessary to know the differences between the biochemistry autoanalyzer and the glucometers measuring devices used in the clinical evaluation of blood glucose levels

A total of 100 Kangal sheep were divided into four groups with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of resynchronization during anestrus for the first time in the literature. The groups were then divided into two further subgroups, namely the resynchronization subgroup group (hCG+resynch) and group (resynch)) and the no resynchronization subgroup (Group (hCG) and group (control)). All the groups started with progesterone-containing sponge insertion on Day 7. The sponge was removed after 7 days (on Day 0), and 600 IU eCG + 131.5 µg PGF2α was injected. The animals in group (hCG+resynch) and group (hCG) received hCG injection at the time of sponge administration. Accordingly, four different groups were established, i.e., resynchronization + hCG administration group (hCG+resynch); n:25), no resynchronization + hCG administration (group (hCG); n:25), resynchronization + no hCG administration (group (resynch); n:25), and no resynchronization + no hCG administration (Group (control); n:25). Estrus rates at the first application in group (hCG+resynch), group (hCG), group (resynch), and group (control) groups were 76%, 88%, 96%, and 76%, respectively, and pregnancy rates were 52%, 64%, 72%, and 60%, respectively; there were no intergroup statistical differences in the two parameters above. It was concluded that resynchronization performed with two consecutive stimulations during anestrus could help save time and provide a pregnancy rate at a level that can provide economic returns.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of environmental temperature on the number and quality of oocytes and embryo production rates obtained by performing ovum pick up (OPU). Heat stress leads to long-term, short-term, visible, and invisible effects in dairy cows. Its effects on reproduction are evident in all stages, from oocyte development to birth. Disturbance in ovarian follicle development, follicular dominance deficiency, anoestrus, polyspermia, embryoniclosses, decreased fetal growth, and abortion are some examples of responses to these effects. The aim of the present study was aimed to determine the effects of ambient temperature on oocyte quality and number and embryo production rates.Materials, Methods & Results: The animal material used in this study comprised 10 Holstein heifers. At the beginning of the study, the heifers were 13-15 months old. OPU was performed at different times of the year, and weather conditions were recorded. Grouping according to ambient temperature was done as < 10°C (group 1), 10-25°C (group 2), and > 25°C (group 3). The veterinary ultrasonography device and a set of compatible intravaginal OPU probe, catheter, and aspiration device were used for OPU application. All antral follicles with diameters of 2-8 mm in the ovaries were aspirated. The aspirated follicle fluids were examined under a stereo microscope, and the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected and classified according to their structure. A, B, and C-quality oocytes were included in the in vitro embryo production process. After performing 69 OPUs on random days of the cycle, the number of oocytes per OPU was found to be 8.72, 6.32, and 6.85 in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.05). The number of viable oocytes per OPU was 6.83, 4.64, and 4.65 in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.05). The statistical difference between the first group and the other groups was significant for cleavage and blastocyst counts (P < 0.05).Discussion: All the negative effects of heat stress on animals resulted from the increased body temperature. Reproductive performance is adversely affected by high temperatures and humidity during periods of high ambient temperatures. Metabolic heat is released, and the heat load increases due to the metabolism of nutrients in cattle. Internal body temperature is regulated via the dissipation of metabolic heat to the environment. The amount of heat dissipated via conduction andconvection depends on the unit body weight, surface area, skin and coat color, difference in temperature gradient of the animal and ambient temperature, and humidity. In the present study, it was determined that the blastocyst development rates of the oocytes obtained in the warm season (>25°C [group 3]) were lower than those of the other groups. It was concluded that this may be because the oocytes developed under chronic heat stress in the animals, and several cycles were required to enhance oocyte quality and developmental potential. Additional studies are needed to investigate the response of oocytes obtained with OPU to heat stress during embryonic developmental stages and to determine the sensitivity and effects of embryonic tissue damage according to developmental stages. Based on the results of the present study, it was concludedthat performing OPU and in vitro embryo production (IVEP) when the ambient temperature is close to the thermoneutral limits may increase the blastocyst development rates. Keywords: blastocyst, heat stress, heifer, in vitro embryo production, oocyte quality, ovum pick-up.

Bu çalışmada adjuvan kullanılarak tek doz Subkutan (SC) FSH uygulamasının ve adjuvan kullanılmadan tek doz epidural FSH uygulamasının kan FSH düzeyleri ve süperovülasyon yanıtı üzerine etkilerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Holştayn inekler (n:18) süperovülasyon prosedürü için üç gruba ayrıldı (n = 6). Gruptaki (İM) hayvanlara 4 gün süreyle 12 saat arayla İntramusculer (IM) azaltıcı FSH (Stimufol, 500 μg domuz FSH ve 100 μg domuz LH, Ulg FMV, Liège, Belçika) dozları verildi. (E) grubundaki hayvanlara epidural aralığa FSH (500 µg) verildi. (SC) grubundaki hayvanlara, 10 mL Montanide ISA 206 adjuvanı içinde FSH eklenerek hazırlanan bir karışım Subkutan (SC) ile uygulandı. Overdeki CL sayısı ultrasonografik yöntemle ölçüldü ve 4 CL varlığına göre süperovülasyon belirlendi. FSH ölçümü için tüm hayvanlardan V. jugularis'ten kan örnekleri alındı. Serum FSH (pFSH) seviyeleri ELISA ile belirlendi. Grup 1'deki tüm hayvanlar, süperovülasyon prosedüründen sonra süperovülasyon tepkisine (4>CL) sahipti. 2. grupta sadece bir hayvan yanıt verdi. Grup 3'te, altı hayvandan dördü yanıt verdi. Kan örneklerinin FSH analizinden sonra, IM ve SC uygulamaları arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak önemsiz iken, IM ve epidural uygulamalar arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlıydı. SC ve epidural uygulamalar arasındaki fark önemsizdi.