PurposeAfter the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, its devastating effects began to be closely monitored all over the world. The new order that emerged due to the fight against the virus soon began to affect all our habits and behaviours. The fact that food consumption is vital for human well-being makes this an important area to investigate in terms of the impact of COVID-19. This research was carried out to investigate the changes in consumers' food consumption behaviour and habits during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors that explain these changes.Design/methodology/approachIn line with the recommendations for social distancing under pandemic conditions, the empirical data were collected via computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). The participants were 1,023 individuals living in the major cities of the seven regions of Turkey. An ordered probit regression model was used to estimate the attitudes related to the changes in food consumption behaviour and habits, and descriptive statistics are provided to show the current food consumption and purchase situation.FindingsThe results showed that the changes in food consumption behaviour and habits due to the pandemic were related to price increase concerns, stockpiling, awareness of food waste, safety and excessive, food access concerns, natural/organic food preferences and packaging of foods. Moreover, the participants tended to prepare food at home and preferred food that was popular with other consumers. Consumers mainly bought food from discount stores and local grocery stores and consumed fresh vegetables and fruits, animal-based products, cereals and pulses.Originality/valueThe current study contributes to knowledge regarding the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on food consumption behaviour by using a predictive model and provides behavioural estimations by using a countrywide questionnaire. The results show that the pandemic affects food consumption routines and food perspective of consumers in various ways.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand consumer attitudes toward organic eggs by identifying their profiles and estimating the degree of their willingness to pay (WTP) for eggs with different attributes in order to evaluate the position of organic eggs. Design/methodology/approach Empirical data were collected from a face-to-face cross-sectional market survey, which involved a choice experiment design and a series of questions related to respondents’ attitudes and preferences in terms of organic egg consumption. A total of 552 consumers who are responsible for their household purchases were sampled, while the survey was performed in the major cities of seven regions of Turkey. The gathered data from the questions on consumer attitudes and preferences were analyzed using ordered probit, while the choice experiment data were analyzed through the use of conditional logit and mixed logit models. Findings Consumers perceive organic eggs to be healthy, nutritious and delicious food. In the study, we obtained three consumer groups (collectivist consumers, individualist consumers and reluctant consumers) with different characteristics in relation to organic egg consumption. When the motivations for organic egg consumption were analyzed, it was found that individual benefits have a greater impact than collectivist benefits on consumers’ choice to purchase organic eggs. According to the results of the regression analysis, consumers are willing to pay ₺0.76 more per egg for organic eggs compared to conventional eggs. Overall, consumers are reluctant to pay a premium in view of the functionality aspect of eggs. Research limitations/implications The results will help the actors within the egg industry to develop production and market-planning processes for differentiated egg markets according to consumer preferences and in terms of having the opportunity to select their ideal customer segments. Originality/value The research is the first study that analyses the motivations and the willingness of Turkish consumers to purchase organic eggs through using a choice experiment design and regression models. Original findings include the segmentation of consumers according to personal beliefs and norms. The research is also important in terms of comparing two regression model results in methodical terms. The similarity among the obtained results from the regression analysis increased the reliability of the study.

Our findings indicate that pregnancy may not have a direct effect on mite density.

No abstract

The present study was carried out to compare feeding methods in respect to milk yield and milk composition and to assess dietary preferences of lactating suckling Damascus goats receiving feed ingredients as multiple choices under confinement conditions in Northern Cyprus. A total of 36 Damascus goats was allocated to 4 experimental groups with three replicates comprising three goats each for a total period of 7 weeks. The treatment groups were 1. 0.5 kg concentrate and ad libitum lucerne hay, 2. 1.0 kg concentrate and ad libitum lucerne hay, 3. ad libitum total mixed ration (TMR) containing 40% lucerne hay and 60% concentrate, 4. free choice feeding among the main feed ingredients of the concentrate (barley, soyabean meal, wheat bran) and lucerne hay. The results showed that milk yield, concentrate intake, hay intake, total feed intake, crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) intakes and liveweight change were affected (P<0.05) by feeding methods. Choice-feeding increased dry matter, energy and protein intake and milk yield but decreased liveweight loss. Feeding methods had no significant (P>0.05) effects on fat, protein or dry matter contents of milk. However, lactose and non-fat-solids content were affected significantly (P<0.05) by feeding methods, as lactose and non-fat-solids content of the groups increased according to their concentrate intakes.It can be concluded that TMR has satisfactory results in respect to lactational performance of suckling goats and that goats can select a diet corresponding to their nutrient requirements when they are given a choice among different feed ingredients. It is also concluded that free-choice feeding may have the potential to improve production performance of Damascus goats in early lactation.

No abstract

Abstract:Heat stress is one of the major factors adversely affecting animal welfare and thus economic benefits of farms. This study was designed to determine the effects of three different spraying methods on goats for reducing heat stress. Thirty goats divided into three groups for the trial (One time sprayed a day: OTS, Two times sprayed a day TTS and Non-sprayed: Control). Respiration and pulse rates, rectal and surface temperatures (from head and udder skin) were taken three times a day (08.00-09.00, 16.00-17.00 and 12.00-01.00) on hot summer days in July-2005 under Mediterranean conditions. Some behavioural aspects such as eating, ruminating, drinking, walking and resting, daily feed and water consumption were regularly measured. The results showed that rectal temperatures (p≤0.005), pulse (p≤0.054) and respiration rates (p≤0.049), udder (p≤0.041) and head temperatures (p≤0.033) in three groups were significantly different. Depending on rising air temperature, rectal, head and udder temperatures and respiration and pulse rates increased during daytime and retired to normal level at night time. TTS goats were superior to the others regarding above-mentioned physiological data. TTS goats spent more time than OTS and Control goats while eating (p≤0.02), ruminating (p≤0.04) and walking (p≤0.01) but less time while drinking (p≤0.01) and resting (p≤0.01). Significant changes between three groups were ascertained regarding feed and water consumptions. TTS goats consumed more concentrate feed (p≤0.042) and alfalfa hay (p = 0.032) than other two groups, whereas Control groups consumed more water (p≤0.012) than the others. Ultimately, the spraying has positive effects on yearling goats for alleviating heat stress and improve animal welfare.

No abstract