The accumulative effects of different levels of annual energy intake over the first two parities on four breeds of beef cow (small size and low milk potential, Aberdeen Angus; small size and high milk potential, Welsh Black; large size and low milk potential, Charolais; and large size and high milk potential, Simmental) were assessed for various production traits and calf performance. Heifers were allocated to each of two levels of annual energy intake relative to metabolic body weight (M0·75) (mean daily intakes equivalent to 705 and 820 kj M0·75) and for the next 2 years these animals (10 per breed) were continuously housed and given diets designed to represent energy intakes while grazing during the summer and conserved forage feeding during the winter. Changes in live weight and body composition were measured throughout both years and milk yield, milk composition and calf performance during both lactations.Animals from each of the four breeds gained weight but lost body condition during their first two parities in a manner that was dependent on their annual level of dietary energy intake. Welsh Black cows grew more than Aberdeen Angus cows and Charolais cows more than Simmental cows so that, by weaning during the second parity, the rank order of live weights between breeds was Charolais > Simmental > Welsh Black > Aberdeen Angus. Welsh Black and Simmental cows produced higher yields of milk (7·9 and 8·7 kg respectively) than Aberdeen Angus and Charolais cows (6·5 and 5·7 kg respectively; P < 0·001). Calves from the two large breeds grew more quickly than those from the two small breeds (1·13 v. 0·99 kg/day; P < 0·01) and calf performance was influenced by milk consumption. Biological efficiency, defined as weight of calf at weaning per GJ metabolizable energy (ME) on an annual basis, increased as annual energy intake decreased and tended to be higher for large breeds on 33 GJ ME per year than for small breeds on the same level of annual energy intake (7·19 v. 6·75). The complex means by which the different breed types interacted with their nutritional environment is discussed.

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The aim of this study was to test whether anoestrous ewes respond differentially, in terms of pulsatile LH release, to sexually activated males or females. For that purpose, anoestrous ewes (n = 21) were divided into three equal groups and placed into three separated rooms. The experiment commenced two months before the expected breeding season. Body weights and body condition scores of ewes were recorded prior to the experiment. Into the Female group (n = 7), long-acting progestins plus oestradiol injected ewes (n = 4) were included; into the Male group (n = 7) longacting testosterone injected rams (n = 4) were included; and into the Control group (n = 7), sexually inactive ewes (n = 4) were introduced. In order to remove the between animal variance, blood samples for LH were taken twice, before and after the introduction, for 8 h at 15 min intervals. The results showed that mean and smoothed mean LH concentrations, LH pulse frequency, LH pulse amplitude and duration were not different between the experimental groups neither before nor after the introduction. However, when the LH data obtained before and after introduction were compared, it was seen that LH pulse frequency tended to decrease following the introduction in Female group (P = 0.078). Body weights and condition scores were not different between the groups but LH pulse frequency was higher in ewes that had condition scores higher than 2.00 units. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between condition score and LH pulse frequency (P = 0.004; R 2 = 0.368). In conclusion, it appears that although female sheep tend to reduce LH pulse frequency of anoestrous ewes, body energy reserves appear to be the major effector of LH pulse frequency during the anoestrous period studied.Testosterone, oestradiol, progestin, sexual interactions, body condition score

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ram introduction after the second prostaglandin F2alpha (PG F2alpha) injection on day 11 on the secretion characteristics of pre-ovulatory LH surge of fat-tailed ewes. Multiparous Morkaraman ewes (n=12) were divided into three groups by balancing the groups for liveweight (BW) and body condition score (BCS). On the day of second PGF2 alpha injection (0 h), performance tested rams (n=2) were either introduced to the ewes at 0 h (ram 0 group, n=4) or at 18 h (ram 18 group, n=4) or were not introduced (control group, n=4). Blood samples were collected at 6, 18, 42, 48, 56, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78 and 90 h for the determination of pre-ovulatory LH surge. BCS and BW during the experimental period were 2.2 +/- 0.2 units and 50.9 +/- 2.3 kg, 2.4 +/- 0.4 units and 49.2 +/- 6.2 kg, 2.1 +/- 0.3 units and 45.9 +/- 4.4 kg, respectively for the ram 0, ram 18 and control groups (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in LH surge characteristics for the experimental groups. Peak LH concentrations were also not different between groups (p > 0.05) and they were 12.2 +/- 8.3, 29.1 +/- 9.9 and 15.8 +/- 9.5 microg/l for the ram 0, ram 18 and control groups, respectively. There was, however, a significant correlation between peak LH concentrations and BCS (p < 0.05, R2=0.373). In conclusion, it appears that, compared with ram introduction, variability in body condition of the ewe has much pronounced effect on the amount of LH secreted after the usage of two PGF2 alpha injections (11 days apart) as a tool for oestrus synchronization.

The metabolic status and reproductive performance of four pure breeds of beef cow (small size and low milk potential, Aberdeen Angus; small size and high milk potential, Welsh Black; large size and low milk potential, Charolais; and large size and high milk potential, Simmental) were monitored during their first two parities. Heifers from each breed were allocated to one of two levels of annual energy intake relative to metabolic body weight (M 075 ) (mean daily intakes equivalent to 705 and 820 kj/kg M°' 75 ) in a factorial design. In the 1st year 64 heifers (eight per treatment) which had calved as a consequence of first or second service were selected for the experiment. In the 2nd year 40 of these animals (five per treatment) which held to first or second service remained on experiment. Animals were housed all year round and given diets designed to represent energy intakes while grazing during the summer and conserved feeding during the winter. Pregnancy was established in late July of each year using a combination of oestrous synchronization and artificial insemination. Blood samples were collected at monthly intervals from weaning in November until calving in May; three times weekly from calving until oestrous synchronization (11 weeks later); and fortnightly thereafter until weaning.For the annual levels of dietary energy intake offered, two breeds (Welsh Black and Charolais) exhibited relatively high growth rates and had the longest post-partum anovulatory periods; and Charolais cows also had the poorest conception rates of all breeds. Relatively lean cows at calving (body condition score <2-5 units) were sensitive, in terms of the duration of the anovulatory period, to live-weight loss during the early post-partum period, particularly when blood glucose levels were low, whereas relatively fat cows at calving (body condition score >2-5 units) were not. The data suggest: (i) that mechanisms controlling the anabolic processes governing maternal growth are antagonistic towards those that control reproduction; and (ii) the catabolism of lean tissue rather than fat tissue during the early post-partum period is also antagonistic towards the mechanisms that govern reproductive function in cows.

No abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on freezability of Tushin ram semen. Ejaculates from four Tushin rams were collected with artificial vagina and then pooled. Pooled semen was divided into four aliquots to be diluted with skim milk-based-egg yolk-glycerol (SEG) extender supplemented with various concentrations of NAC (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mM). The semen was loaded into 0.25 mL straws, equilibrated (at 4°C for 2 h), frozen in liquid nitrogen (LN) vapour (at -120°C for 15 min) and stored in LN (-196°C). After thawing (at 37°C for 1 min), sperm motility, dead-live ratio, morphology, abnormal acrosome and membrane integrity (HOST) were evaluated. Results showed that 0.75 mM NAC has detrimental effects on motility, compared to the other three NAC doses evaluated (P<0.05). Membrane integrity was higher in 0.25 and 0.5 mM NACs. There was significant differences in semen viability among NAC doses (P<0.05). In conclusion, higher doses of NAC, especially used with SEG extender, may have some detrimental effects on freezability of ram semen. Moreover, although modest doses of NAC slightly improved freezability of Tushin ram semen. Keywords: Tushin ram, Semen, Cryopreservation, N-acetylcysteine, Post-thaw semen quality N-Asetilsistein (NAC)'in Dondurulmuş-Çözdürülmüş Tuj Koçu Spermasının Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisi ÖzetÇalışmanın amacı, Tuj koç spermasının dondurulabilirliği üzerine N-asetil sistein (NAC)'in etkisini araştırmaktı. Dört tuj koçundan suni vajen ile alınan sperma birleştirildi. Karışım sperma dört eşit hacme bölündü ve 0 mM, 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM ve 0.75 mM NAC içeren yağsız süt yumurta sarısı ve gliserollü sulandırıcı ile sulandırıldı. Sperma 0.25 mL'lik payetlere çekildi, ekilibre edidi (4°C'de 2 saat), sıvı azot buharında donduruldu (-120°C'de 15 dak.) ve sıvı azot (-196°C) içinde saklandı. Çözüm (37°C'de 1 dak.) sonrası, sperm motilitesi, ölü-canlı oranı, morfolojisi, anormal akrozom ve membrane bütünlüğü (HOST) değerlendirildi. Sonuçlar, 0.75 Mm NAC'ın, diğer NAC dozları ile karşılaştırıldığında, motilite üzerine olumsuz etkilere sahip olduğunu gösterdi (P<0.05). Membran bütünlüğü 0.25 ve 0.5 mM NAC derişimlerinde en yüksekti (P<0.05). Ayrıca, NAC dozları arasında, sperma canlılığı açısından önemli farklar da belirlendi (P<0.05). NAC'ın yüksek dozlarının, düşük dozları dondurulabilirliği bir miktar iyileştirse de, özellikle sütlü sulandırıcılarla kullanıldığında, koç spermasının dondurulabilirliği üzerine bazı olumsuz etkileri olabileceği sonucuna varıldı.

Turizm sektörü, dünyanın en hızlı gelişen sektörlerden biridir. Artan rekabet ortamında yeni turizm çeşitleri geliştirmek ve yeni destinasyonlarla daha fazla turisti cezbetmek önemli bir avantaj halini almıştır. Turizm sektörünün en önemli çeşitlerinden biri engelli turizmi pazarıdır. Engelli bireylerin turistik aktiviteye katılması ile ortaya çıkan engelli turizmi, Türkiye açısından oldukça yeni ve altyapısı henüz oluşturulamamış bir sektördür. Dünya'da 1 milyarın üzerinde engelli birey bulunmakta ve sadece Avrupa'da engellilerin oluşturduğu turizm pazarı 2016 yılı itibariyle 150 milyon Euro'ya ulaşmış bulunmaktadır. Sessiz turizm ise, engelli bireyler içinde işitme engellilerin oluşturduğu grubu ifade etmek için kullanılmıştır. Seyahat ve konaklama konusunda herhangi bir ilave yatırıma ihtiyaç duymamaları sebebiyle işitme engelliler çalışma konusu yapılmıştır. Bu çalışma, engelliler arasında seyahat ve konaklama için ayrı bir yatırım gerektirmeyen işitme engelli grubun engelli turizm açısından talep ve arz olarak mevcut durumunu değerlendirmek üzere yapılmış ve hedef talep pazarı olarak Avrupa ve ABD'de yaşayan özellikle işitme engelliler seçilmiştir. Yapılan çalışma, Dünya ve Türkiye'de ciddi oranda işitme engelli birey olduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca Türkiye'de yapılan çalışmalar, konaklama tesislerinde engellilere yönelik altyapı yatırımlarının yetersizliğini tespit etmektedir. Sessiz turizm açısından ise bu durum herhangi bir engel teşkil etmediğinden Türkiye açısından en uygun engelli turizmi çeşidinin sessiz turizm olduğu tespit edilmiştir.