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IntroductionTurkey's proximity to domestication centers, along with its climate, topographical pattern, and agricultural structure that is formed according to plant cover, has created an appropriate environment for sheep breeding. Therefore, there are many sheep breeds in various regions and territories (1,2). Although there are many varieties and crossbred populations of sheep breeds in Turkey, 20 sheep breeds have been officially registered by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock (3). Even though Gökçeada (GA), Kıvırcık (KIV), Karacabey Merino (KM), and Sakız (SZ) sheep breeds, which are raised in the western Anatolian and Marmara regions, have a low percentage of native sheep population, each breed has certain significant characteristics. SZ sheep, known for their high fertility and milk production, and GA sheep, known for their milk production and high lamb survival rate, are raised along the coastline of the Aegean region. KIV and KM sheep breeds are known for their meat quality, wool, and meat production and are raised in western Turkey. For the purpose of improving the meat quality and fertility of the sheep population in western Turkey, the SZ and KIV breeds are commonly used in crossbreeding (4).Molecular genetic methods for identifying genetic structure and diversity in farm animals have shown a rapid development in recent years and have become widely used. Various molecular genetic methods have been developed for this purpose. Microsatellites that are specific to DNA regions are more widely used than other methods (5).This study aims to determine the genetic structure of GA and SZ sheep breeds, which are bred on the coastline of the Aegean region, and that of the KIV and KM sheep breeds, which are commonly bred in the Aegean and Marmara regions, by means of microsatellites. The information obtained from this study is based on microsatellite markers and will clarify the genetic relationships between these sheep breeds. It will also be helpful for determining current and future breeding programs and breed management and conservation strategies. Materials and methods Animal resources and DNA isolationThe animal material of the study consisted of a total of 250 animals belonging to GA, KIV, KM, and SZ sheep populations bred in the Aegean and Marmara regions. The origins and sample sizes of these 4 breeds are presented in Table 1. A DNA isolation kit (Applied Biological Materials Inc., Canada) was used for DNA extraction from blood samples.

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Ultrasound Measurements of Backfat Thickness and Musculus longissmus dorsi thoracis et lumborum (MLD) Depth at the Weaning on Karacabey Merino, Karya and Kıvırcık Lambs AbstractThe experiment was conducted to determine the ultrasonic measurements of backfat thickness and Musculus longissmus dorsi thoracis et lumborum (MLD) characteristics at weaning. Ultrasonic measurements of MLD in Karacabey (258), Karya (168) and Kıvırcık (241) were performed in 667 lambs born in 2012-2013 lambing season. Least square means for backfat thickness, skin+fat thickness, muscle depth, average daily gain and weaning weight, at the mean age of 115 days, were 0.31 cm, 0.55 cm, 2.09 cm, 229.57 g and 29.20 kg respectively. Results for backfat thickness, skin+backfat thickness, muscle depth of MLD and average daily gain and weaning weight were compatible with differences for live weight among the breeds. All the correlation coefficients between ultrasound measurements of MLD properties, used to determine the effect of conformation and fatness status, and live weight were positive and statistically significant.

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The calpastatin (CAST) gene has a major effect on muscle growth and meat tenderness after slaughter; it is located on the fifth chromosome in sheep. Blood samples were collected from 720 animals in total from Kıvırcık (KIV), Sakız (SZ), Karacabey Merino (KM), and Gökçeada (GA) sheep populations raised in West Anatolia. The PCR products were digested by the restriction endonuclease MspI. Allele frequencies for M and N alleles of the gene were found to be 0.85 and 0.15 in KIV, 0.80 and 0.20 in KM, 0.99 and 0.01 in GA, and 0.34 and 0.66 in SZ sheep, respectively. It was determined that NN genotype frequency was quite lower in KIV (0.04) and KM (0.07) populations than in the SZ breed (0.40). On the other hand, the NN genotype was not observed in the GA population. Populations other than KM were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In general, allele and genotype frequencies of CAST were similar to those in other studies on different sheep populations. This research is a beginning step for finding candidate genes' effects on meat quantity and quality.

This study was conducted to determine first age reproduction characteristics of indigenous Kıvırcık, Sakız and Gökçeada sheep breeds and growth performances of ewe lambs which have been kept in Bandırma Sheep Research Station (BSRS). The data of reproduction characteristics of ewes and growth characteristics of lambs were collected on 15 Kıvırcık, 8 Sakız and 10 Gökçeada ewes, and on 16 Kıvırcık, 12 Sakız and 11 Gökçeada lambs, respectively. After the lambs completed their fifth month ages, estrus detection was carried out with a teaser ram twice a day with 12 hour intervals. For the Kıvırcık, Sakız and Gökçeada lambs, the first oestrus weights were 37.93, 33.35 and 29.75 kg; first oestrus ages were 315, 320 and 337 days; oestrus durations were 30.99, 25.85 and 20.28 hours and the duration of the oestrus cycles were 16.59, 19.91 and 17.76 days, respectively. The birth weights of Kıvırcık, Sakız and Gökçeada lambs were found to be 3.64, 3.91, 3.28 kg; the weaning weight (WW), 31.01, 25.44 and 23.67 kg, the six month live weight (SMLW), 32.87, 26.95 and 24.15 kg, the yearling live weight (YLW), 39.01, 30.95 and 30.27 kg and the average daily weight gain (ADWG), 0.271 0.257 and 0.202 kg, respectively.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the traits of reproductive, milking and growth performance of Saanen and Saanen × Hair crossbreds (F1, B1 and B2) raised at the Bandırma Sheep Research Institute. The data were collected from 868 goats for reproductive performance and milk yield and from 1077 kids for survival performance between 2009-2012. Milk components (fat, protein, lactose and non-fat dry matter) of goats (n=162) and body weight changes of kid’s (n=64) were evaluated for one year in 2012. Estrus rates and survival rates were similar among all genotypes. Kidding rate was significantly higher in F1 goats than Saanen goats. Saanen goat had the lowest average mean daily milk yield compared with other genotypes. The effect of year and age were significant on milk yield. Goats in F1 and B1 genotypes had higher milk protein percentage and non-fat dry matter content in comparison with Saanen and B2 genotype. Milk fat and lactose contents were similar among genotypes. Birth weight and monthly live weight were similar between genotypes while weaning weight, six month live weight and yearling live weight were higher in B1 kids in comparison with Saanen kids. The effect of dam age and birth type were significant on birth weight, monthly live weight and weaning weight. The findings related to performance characteristics in goat genotypes investigated show that B1 genotype could be recommend for semi-intensive production system in the Western Anatolia.