The aim of this study was to determine the green herbage and dry herbage yield, chemical and nutritional values and RFV of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) at different stages of maturity under Isparta ecological conditions in 2012. To achieve this goal random sampling plots was created according to an experimentation pattern, and the number of harvests was determined according to regional conditions. In chemical analysis, the following samples were analyzed for Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE), Ash, Crude Fiber (CF), Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE), Notral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), as well as macro and micro minerals. The highest total green herbage yield was 9609.33 kg/da during the budding period, which decreased by 28% with maturity. The highest total dry matter yield, which depends on hay yield, was determined as 1742.63 kg/da at the beginning of the flowering period. The highest CP was determined during the budding period and decreased with maturity. DM, CS, NDF and ADF content increased while ash, Digestible Dry Matter (DDM), Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Metabolisable Energy (ME), Net Energy Lactation (NEL), and Digestible Energy (DE) content decreased with maturity. The highest RFV was determined during budding and the beginning of the flowering periods. Taking both yield and feed value results into consideration based on Isparta's conditions, the best harvesting period of alfalfa was determined to be at the beginning of the flowering period.

1. The present study was conducted to determine if detrimental effects of high temperature on broiler performance could be overcome by short-term fasting and to examine the effect of food withdrawal on the responses of two commercial strains (S1 and S2). 2. An experimental design was used with three feeding groups and two strains. Birds in the control (C) group were fed ad libitum during the experimental period (0 to 6 weeks), while feed was withdrawn in the other groups between 10:00 and 16:00 h during weeks 5 and 6 (F1) or week 6 (F2), respectively. After standard brooding for the first 3 weeks temperature and humidity varied according to outside climate between 4 and 6 weeks of age. 3. Feeding strategy significantly affected body weight at week 6 (BW6) and daily weight gain during week 6 (DWG5-6). F2 gave the best results in BW6 and DWG5-6. Strain effect was significant on DWG4-5 and DWG5-6; S1 had higher DWG4-5 and S2 gained more at the last stage. S1C broilers had greater BW6 than S2C but the S2 strain gave a better response to short-term fasting compared with S1 and this resulted in significant strain by feeding interaction effect on BW6 and DWG5-6. 4. It was shown that short-term fasting was an effective method for controlling rectal temperature (RT) of broilers at 5 and 6 weeks of age. 5. Total food consumption (FCO-6), food conversion ratio (FCRO-6), mortality, and carcase characteristics were not affected by short-term fasting in the experimental conditions. 6. In conclusion, it can be recommended that broiler producers may practise 6 h of fasting during the hot period of the day without any adverse effect on slaughter weight and FCR when the birds are close to the average slaughter weight and a heat wave is expected. Strain differences in RT measurements also indicate the importance of choosing strains to be used in hot and warm climate conditions with attention to the thermoregulation ability of broilers.

1. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of level of inclusion of poultry by-product and enzyme-prebiotic supplementation on grower diet digestibility and the performance of broilers. 2. Six grower diets were formulated to provide a similar nutrient profile with the exception of using three graded levels of poultry by-product, namely 0, 25, 40 g/kg of the diet with and without supplementation of enzyme preparation at the rate of 1 kg per tonne of feed and prebiotic preparation at the rate of 2 kg per tonne of feed. The experimental diets were used from 3 to 6 weeks of age. 3. Body weights, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency were not affected by poultry by-product; however, enzyme-prebiotic had a significant positive effect on feed conversion efficiency at 0 to 6 weeks in experiment 1. 4. Crude protein digestibility was decreased by feeding the diet containing poultry by-product while ether extract digestibility was increased by poultry by-product at the rate of 25 g per kg of feed only. Dry matter retention, crude fibre digestibility and organic matter retention were not affected by poultry by-product. Dry matter and organic matter retentions, crude protein, ether extract and crude fibre digestibilities were not affected by enzyme-prebiotic. 5. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) values were increased by poultry by-product at the rate of 40 g per kg of feed and addition of enzyme-prebiotic.

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The effect of three probiotic dietary supplements on the laying and reproductive performance of layer hens and broiler breeder hens was investigated. A total of four hundred and eighty, 22-week-old layer hens were given diets containing one of three probiotics (1 g/kg diet for each probiotics) from weeks 22 to 49. Seven hundred and twenty female and sixtyfour male broiler breeders were also subjected to the same additive feeding procedure between 21 and 50 weeks of age. The layer hen and breeder trials were initiated simultaneously and performed in pens located in the same area. Either egg production rate or egg weight was affected by the microbial cultures administered. Body weight and mortality were not affected. Egg production rate, egg weight and egg mass benefited from some of the probiotics, while, overall, the probiotics led to significant improvements in the feed conversion rate of layer hens. All of the probiotic preparations decreased the cracked-to-broken egg ratio, compared to the untreated control group. One of the three probiotic supplements significantly improved the egg production rate and increased the settable egg and chick yield per hen in broiler breeders, whereas, overall, probiotics tended to decrease settable egg weight. Probiotics enhanced hatchability, but no beneficial effects were observed on fertility. Based on these findings, it can be said that the microbial cultures in the probiotic preparations exhibited host-specific and strain-specific differences in their activities as performanceenhancer feed additives, with improvements in some selected performance parameters.