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This study was carried out to determine the technical and economic efficiency levels of laying hen farms and factors affecting the efficiency scores. For this purpose, a personal interview was carried out. Technical and economic data of 39 laying hen farms consisting their inputs and outputs over the period 2013-2015 was formed the material of this study. Efficiency levels were estimated by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA).Mean technical efficiency score of the enterprises were determined as 98.6%. Also 48.7% of the enterprises were determined fully technical efficient. On the other hand, mean economic efficiency of the enterprises was determined as 88.8%, while only 17.9% of the enterprises were fully economic efficient. In order to determine the factors affecting efficiency scores, Tobit regression analysis was performed. According to the analysis results, chick mortality rate, hen mortality rate and feed conversion ratio had negative effects on technical efficiency scores, while education level of the farmer and capacity utilization ratio had positive effects. Egg cost, chick mortality rate, feed conversion rate and production length had negative effect while egg yield had positive effect on economic efficiency. As a result, enterprises would increase their technical and economic efficiency scores by decreasing the mortality rate, feed conversion rate, production length. Furthermore, increasing capacity utilization ratio, education level of the owner and egg yield/ hen would help to increase efficiency levels of the farms.

Inherited diseases are caused by recessive alleles proceed from increased inbreeding in Holstein cattle population. Bovine leucocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD), deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase enzyme (DUMPS), complex vertebral malformation (CVM), factor XI deficiency (FXID) and bovine citrulinaemia (BC) are the most frequent inherited diseases in Holstein cattle population. The prevalence for carriers of BLAD, DUMPS, CVM, FXID and BC diseases were reported highest in Denmark (21.5%), USA (1.2%), Japan (32.5%), Turkey (18%) and Australia (13%) respectively. Moreover the highest prevalence for carriers of BLAD, CVM and FXID were reported as 2.2%, 3.4% and 18% respectively in Turkey so far. Neither DUMPS nor BC carriers were identified in Turkey so far. However further studies are required in order to identify the provinces that have risks for mutant alleles of inherited diseases in Turkey. Determining the carrier animals and exclude them from breeding is the only solution for eradication studies of inherited diseases.

In this study, it was studied that viability in preweaning period and growth performance in the period from birth to 8 months of age of Hair kids (Anatolian Black Goat

Melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene encodes melatonin hormone which regulates the function of seasonal reproductive activity in sheep. The aim of this study was to make the genetic characterization and identify the variant alleles of MTNR1A gene in Kıvırcık breed. Blood samples of 110 Kıvırcık sheep were collected from five different farms located in Kırklareli and Istanbul. DNA extraction was performed from blood samples. Exon 2, the polymorphic region of Melatonin receptor 1A gene, was amplified and PCR products were genotyped by using MnlI and RsaI enzymes.