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The effects of tail docking at birth on growth performance and carcass characteristics of fat-tailed male Karakaş lambs were investigated. A total of 23 Karakaş single-born male lambs was used in this study. Nine were docked at one day of age using rubber elastrator rings and the rest was left intact. After weaning, the lambs were fed a finishing diet for 70 days, and then slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics. Total weight gains during the finishing period were 14.3 ± 1.00 and 18.9 ± 0.82 kg and average daily live weight gains 204.7 ± 14.41 and 269.9 ± 11.72 g for the undocked vs. the docked group, respectively. The carcasses of the docked group contained more kidney, pelvic and internal fat than the intact lambs as well as a higher percentage of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat. The weights of the different carcass cuts of the docked lambs were also heavier that those of the intact group. The results indicated that the tail docking of fat-tailed Karakaş lambs at birth improved weight gain and desirable carcass characteristics compared to those of undocked lambs.

Productive characteristics and body measurements of Norduz goats, a native genetic resource in Turkey, were measured. The animals studied were brought from natural habitats to the farm of the Animal Science Department of Agricultural Faculty, Yüzüncü Yıl University. Least squares means of withers height (WH), body length (BL), chest width at back of withers (CWBW), chest depth (CD), chest girth (CG) and leg girth (LG) of Norduz does were 65.9 ± 1.08, 67.2 ± 1.08, 21.1 ± 0.88, 30.8 ± 0.62, 88.9 ± 1.78 and 60.4 ± 1.28 cm, respectively. Least squares means of body weights after parturition of does were 41.3 ± 2.01 kg. The means of lactation length and lactation milk yield were 226. ± 7.2 days and 347 ± 40.1, respectively. Twinning rate, fertility, fecundity, litter size and litter size at weaning were 30%, 98%, 1.27, 1.30 and 1.28, respectively. Means of WH, BL, CWBW, CD, CG, LG and body weights of Norduz bucks were 73.9 ± 2.61, 75.6 ± 2.23, 21.4 ± 0.67, 33.9 ± 1.15, 95.0 ± 2.34, 69.8 ± 2.69 cm and 58.7 ± 3.91 kg, respectively.

In this study, it is aimed to be determined the some milk traits in Awassi ewes maintained at village conditions. Totally, 63 Awassi ewes with ages of 2-3 years were used as animal material. Milking in Awassi ewes started at thirty days after parturition. Controls of the milking were made at 14 days intervals. Lactation period and lactation milk production for each ewe were determined from data of controls based on test-day records and Sweden method. The means of lactation period and lactation milk yield for Awassi ewes were 165.46 days and 110.05 l, respectively. Lactation period and lactation milk yield were not statistically affected by age and born lamb's gender. The levels in middle of lactation period of Awassi ewes were defined as following: milk fat, dry matter, density, point of freezing, and protein were 9.40%, 11.61%, 1.0364 g/cm 3 ,-0.59 °C and 6.09%, respectively. As a result, the findings suggest that the lactation period and the lactation milk yield of Awassi ewes were sufficient level for rural conditions. 