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the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of stocking density (0.20 and 0.27 m 2 /lamb) during transportation on certain biochemical stress parameters and meat quality characteristics of fiftyfive Karayaka lambs divided into two groups. The front compartment of the trailer was loaded at high stocking density (hd: 0.20 m 2 /lamb; n=33) and the remainder was loaded at low stocking density (ld: 0.27 m 2 /lamb; n=22). the distance was approximately 130 km and duration was 2 h 15 min. blood samples were taken just before and just after transportation. glucose (p<0.001), lactate (p<0.001), cortisol (p<0.01), creatine kinase (ck) (p<0.01), lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) (P<0.01) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P<0.05) levels were significantly higher in lambs of the hd group than in the ld group. the effects of stocking density on ph, proportion of expressed juice, cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force value and meat colour parameters were not significant (P>0.05). Transportation with a stocking density of 0.20 m 2 /lamb resulted in higher stress responses in lambs compared with a stocking density of 0.27 m 2 /lamb. however, increased stress in the hd group did not lead to any adverse effects on meat quality characteristics. in the determination of stocking density, a compromise that gives animal welfare and commercial objectives equal status would improve the current situation.

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Summary: Some slaughter characteristics of Akkaraman, Morkaraman and Turkish Merino lambs were evaluated. The data were collected from 219 Akkaraman (181 male and 38 female) and 54 Morkaraman (32 male and 22 female) and 73 Turkish Merino (47 male and 26 female) lambs. The data were analysed by using least squares models. The models were included fixed effects of breed, empty body weight (EBW), sex and two-way interactions. Empty body weight groups with five kg ranges for each breed were constituted. Akkaraman, Morkaraman and Turkish Merino lambs showed slightly increasing dressing values with increasing EBW. The effect of empty body weight on dressing percentages was significant in Akkaraman and Morkaraman lambs (p<0.05, p<0.01). However, the effect of sex on this trait was not pronounced in all three breeds. As EBW was increased, the percentages of the head, feet and empty digestive tract were decreased; however, the percentages of the tail and the length of small and large intestines showed a reverse trend in all investigated breeds. The effects of EBW were generally important (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001) for the traits mentioned above. On the other hand, the effects of sex were not usually significant (p>0.05) for the same traits in all breeds.

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