The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the body condition score (BCS) of ewes before and during the mating season on their reproductive performance under an extensive production system. In this study, 240 Kivircik sheep from the flocks of two breeders were used for over a 2-year period. The flocks were fed under extensive conditions on natural pastures throughout the year. The ewes were synchronized in two different periods, one of which was 45 days before the other. Before the introduction of rams to the ewes, the ewes were weighed after measuring their BCS. Detailed records were kept for every flock in each year. We found significant effects of BCS on pregnancy rate, lambing rate (P < 0.05) and fecundity (P < 0.05). The BCS for the highest pregnancy, lambing rate, and fecundity was determined between 2.01 and 3.00, while the lowest rates for these traits were ≤ 1.50. The highest rates of the pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and fecundity and gestation productivity were 75.9%, 70.9%, 1.11 and 3.34 kg, respectively.

IntroductionSheep production has a significant share in the animal protein market and there are various factors affecting meat quality (1-3). Although lamb is considered fattier than other meats by a lot of consumers, its fat content is not regarded as a problem as it gives tenderness and more flavor to the meat. However, improper rearing and/ or feeding conditions might cause excessive fattening, which reduces demand from customers. In recent years, the production of lamb, which is preferred by the majority of consumers in Turkey and Mediterranean countries, has declined in Turkey due to a numerical decrease in the sheep population.In the western Anatolian region of Turkey (particularly in the Aegean and Marmara regions) there is a high demand for the meat of Kıvırcık and Kıvırcık crossbred lambs, which is one of the thin-tailed lamb genotypes. Eşme District in Uşak Province is a large market for lamb production in western Anatolia. Due to this demand, there is intensive lamb shipment from Eşme to many city and district centers in the Aegean Region, particularly to İzmir, for slaughter purposes between April and June. Apart from this period, large numbers are shipped to neighboring cities as sacrificial lambs.Rearing systems and feeding conditions have a significant role in carcass formation and meat quality. Important factors in terms of carcass and meat quality include ratio of valuable carcass components, pH, color, water loss, cooking loss, tenderness, and fatty acid composition (4,5). Lamb meat quality involves parameters such as carcass quality characteristics (proportion and distribution of carcass components), meat quality characteristics (chemical composition, microbial characteristics), and eating quality evaluated by panelists (tenderness, juiciness, flavor, total acceptability). Although consumers and retailers desire high eating quality in meat, it is difficult to develop these characteristics due to the technological, financial, and biological limitations for animal farmers (6-8). Desirable traits in meat are high sensory characteristics such as tenderness, juiciness, color, flavor, and a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Kıvırcık lamb is considered to have good meat quality compared to other breeds (6).The present study aimed to determine meat quality of Kıvırcık lambs reared in Eşme, which has a large number of sheep. pH, color, tenderness, water loss, cooking loss, shear force properties, and fatty acid composition were determined from muscle samples collected from different sections of the carcass.

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Present study aimed to establish the stimulatory effects of bee drone larvae (BDL) on the androgenic effects and growth performance of goat male kids (GMK). The effects of BDL on growth and testosterone hormone levels were investigated in Saanen male kids. A total of 26 Saanen male kids (13 heads control, 13 heads treatment groups) were used for determining the effects of BDL 60 days after the weaning period. BDL was obtained from “good beekeeping practices” hives. Hormone levels, growth trials, testes characteristics, and body measurements were determined every 14 days on the days 75, 90, 105, 120, and 135 of the trial. The increasing level of testosterone hormone in the treatment group on 135 days strengthened the hypothesis that the BDL could have greater effects in the case of more application that is expensive and considering the time of maturity of Saanen GMK. The lipid composition of BDL was identified by GC/MS. Oleic acid (64.75 %) and palmitic acid (26.08 %) were the dominant lipid compounds of BDL. Additionally, the phenolic/organic acid profile investigated by HPLC‐DAD revealed that trans‐aconitic acid (11.20±0.32 μg/g) and fumaric acid (5.03±0.41 μg/g) were found as major compounds in BDL.