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This study was carried out to investigate the effect of somatic cell count (SCC) on milk yield and milk composition in first and second lactation Holstein dairy cows. Thirty cows in first lactation and 49 cows in second lactation were used in the study. Animals were 15±9.87 days in milk. Individual milk samples were collected monthly from June 2009 to March 2010, and somatic cell counts, milk protein, milk fat, lactose and milk urea-N were determined. Four SCC groups were formed for determining effect of SCC on milk yield and composition. These groups were as follows: ≤200, 201-500, 501-999, and ≥1.000¥10 3 cell/mL. It was observed that SCC had a high significant effect on milk yield, milk protein, milk lactose (P<0.01), total solids and milk urea-N (P<0.05), however, the effect of SCC on milk fat was not significant (P>0.05). This study indicates that high SCC negatively affects not only milk yield but also milk composition and quality.

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In this study, growth performance of Akkaraman lambs and some fertility parameters of Akkaraman sheep raised in semi extensive farm conditions were investigated. A total of 6300 heads Akkaraman ewes (6000 ewes and 300 rams) housed in 34 farms located in central villages of Niğde province were evaluated between 2012 and 2016. The data of birth weight of 30161 lambs, body weight of 29517 lambs aged 90 days old and some fertility parameters of 30000 heads ewes were used. The average lambing rate of ewes was found 90.1%. The twining rate of ewes was 20.8%; the average litter size was 1.12 lambs. Birth weights of Akkaraman sheep lambs was 4.23 kg, average 90th day live weights were 23.05 kg. Effects of year, birth type, dam age, and sex were found statistically significant on birth and 90-day live weights of the Akkaraman lambs. As a result, it was concluded that the fertility of Akkaraman sheep and growth characteristics of lambs raised by public under semi-extensive conditions could be improved and the economic situation of sheep farms could be better by the implementation such improvement project.

SummaryThis study was carried out to investigate the fertility, milk production and body weight of ewes and the survival and growth characteristics of lambs of the indigenous Imroz and Kivircik sheep breeds. The Imroz and Kivircik sheep breeds are included among the genetic resources in the project for the conservation of the indigenous breeds in Turkey.Conception rates for Imroz and Kivircik ewes were 57.6% and 81.7% respectively, litter sizes were 1.2 and 1.2 respectively, milk yields were 89 kg and 62 kg respectively and average live weights (2–7 years of age) were 43 kg and 55 kg, respectively. Imroz and Kivircik lambs had survival rates at weaning (90th day) of 98% and 96%, birth weights of 3.3 kg and 4.1 kg and weaning weights of 19.8 kg and 28.0 kg, respectively.The results showed that the Kivircik sheep were heavier and the lambs had a better growth rate until weaning than the Imroz breed. However, the milk production of the Imroz ewes was higher than that of Kivircik. The lambs of both breeds had a satisfactory survival and growth rates until weaning and these results might be regarded as a desired adaptation of the Imroz and Kivircik lambs to the environmental conditions of the Marmara Region.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lactation number and months on milk yield, somatic cell count (SCC) and udder measurements in Holstein cows. In the study, 30 first lactation and 49 second lactation, totally 79 Holstein cows housing in a farm located in Nigde province (Turkey) were used. Somatic cell count and udder measurements were determined at each visit of the farm per months, while lactation milk yield of each animal was calculated using Test Interval Method. It was observed that the effect of lactation number on lactation milk yield (P<0.01) and SCC (P<0.05) was increased significantly. The effect of lactation number on udder measurements was significant (P<0.01) except front teat length (FTD). Influence of lactation months on milk yield and SCC was increased and statistically significant (P<0.01). The effect of lactation months on distance between front teats (DFT), distance between rear teats (DRT), front teat diameter (FTD), rear teat diameter (RTD) was significant (P<0.01). A negative correlation was found between SCC and milk yield, front teat clearance from ground (FTC) and rear teat clearance from ground (RTC). On the other hand, a positive correlation was also evident between RTD and distance between front and rear teats. Furthermore, there were positive correlation between milk yield and DFT, DFR, DRT, and FTD, whereas a negative correlation was observed between milk yield and FTC. In conclusion, cows in second lactation showed importantly increased milk yield and SCC as compared to cows in first lactation, whereas FTC and RTC decreased and other udder measurements increased.

Abstract. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of concentrate-based feeding (CF) and artificial pasture-based grazing (APG) management systems on milk yield, fatty acids, nutritional indices, and milk physicochemical characteristics of Awassi ewes. The research involved 300 heads of Awassi ewes, which were divided into two groups. Awassi sheep were managed in a CF and APG system to test the milk yield characteristics. The results showed a significant (P<0.01) difference in milk yield and lactation length between CF and APG management systems of ewes. The average daily milk yield showed a nonsignificant difference for both management systems, and no significant changes (P>0.05) in the chemical composition of CF and APG management systems were observed. Palmitic (C16:0), myristic (C14:0), stearic (C18:0) capric (C10:0), and lauric (C12:0) acids were the major saturated fatty acids found in milk from both management systems. The level of linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) was significantly different in both treatments (P<0.05), but the linolenic (C18:3 n-3) acid level was nonsignificant in milk from the CF and APG management systems. The hypocholesterolemic / hypercholesterolemic (h / H) fatty acid and thrombogenicity (TI) ratios were significantly different (P<0.05); however, the atherogenicity (AI) had no significant difference between confined and grazing systems. In conclusion, it can be said that the lactation length and lactation milk yield were prolonged by the APG management system, though the milk composition and quality were not significantly affected.