In this study, we investigated the relationship between welfare standards in sheep farms and farmers’ perceptions of factors affecting animal welfare. We developed a scale of 34 items to measure farmers’ perceptions of animal welfare. We examined the relationships among variables in farmers’ characteristics, our observations, and farmers’ expressed perceptions through a t test, variance analysis and correlation analysis. Results of the research suggested that higher welfare standards for sheep exist on farms run by farmers who have a higher perception level of animal welfare. These farmers believed that personnel and shelter conditions were more effective than veterinary inspection, feeding and other factors in terms of animal welfare. In addition, we detected a significant relationship between the farmers’ perceptions and their gender, educational level, whether they enjoyed their work, or whether they applied the custom of religious sacrifice. Our results showed that emotional and cognitive factors related to farmers’ perceptions may offer opportunities for progress in the domain of animal welfare.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diet supplemented with L-arginine (L-Arg)on growth performance, some serum biochemical parameters and duodenal motility of broilers during three time periods: 0 to 10, 11 to 28 and 29 to 42 days old. A total of 500, mixed sex, one-dayold Ross-308 broiler chicks were divided into five groups as follows: Arg deficient group and four experimental groups. Each group was then divided into five subgroups of 20 chicks each. Arg deficient group for all time periods was fed by basal diet which contained 10% less L-Arg than optimum Arg requirement recommended by the breeder. Experimental groups were fed by basal diet supplemented with L-Arg which was progressively 10% increased in groups. The highest body weight gain (BWG) was observed on days 11-28 and 0-42 in experimental group fed by basal diet supplemented with 110% L-Arg, whereas the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was determined on days 29-42 and 0-42 in the same experimental group. Feed intake did not change in all three periods, while serum urea nitrogen level in the experimental group in which diet supplemented with 10% L-Arg, was lower than other groups on day 0-10. On contractility studies, it was observed that L-Arg inhibited the amplitude of contractions in duodenum in a dosedependent manner in vitro. These results suggest that the basal diet formulated with 90-130% Arg is not effective on growth performance of chicks on days 0-10, whereas the diet supplemented with 10% L-Arg more than optimum Arg requirement is adequate during the days 11-28 and 29-42. Moreover, although the L-Arg decreased the duodenal contractility in vitro, it is suggested that the diet supplemented with 10% L-Arg more than optimum Arg requirement may be negatively affected the FCR in broilers. Keywords: Broiler, L-arginine, Growth performance, Duodenal contractility L-Arjininin Broylerlerde Büyüme Performansı, Bazı Biyokimyasal Parametreler ve Duodenal Motilite Üzerine Etkisi ÖzetBu araştırma 0-10., 11-28. ve 29-42. günler arasında broylerlerde L-arjinin (L-Arj)nin rasyonlara katılmasının büyüme performansı, bazı biyokimyasal parametreler ve duodenal motilite üzerine etkisini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada toplam 500 adet, bir günlük yaşta, karışık cinsiyette Ross 308 broyler civciv: Arj yetersiz grup ve dört deneme grubu olmak üzere beş gruba ayrılmıştır. Her bir grup da 20'şer civcivden oluşan 5 alt gruba ayrılmıştır. Arjinince yetersiz grup tüm deneme boyunca üretici tarafından önerilen optimum Arj gereksiniminin %10'undan düşük L-Arj içeren temel rasyon ile beslenmiştir. Deneme grupları ise, temel rasyona %10 progresif artan düzeylerde L-Arj ilave edilen rasyonlarla beslenmiştir. Araştırma sonunda ihtiyacın %110 düzeyinde Arj bulunan diyetle beslenen grupta 11-28 ve 0-42. (P<0.01) günlerde en yüksek canlı ağırlık artışı (CAA), buna karşın aynı deneme grubunda 29-42. ve 0-42. günlerde en düşük yemden yararlanma oranı (YYO) bulunmuştur. Her üç dönemde YT gruplarda değişmezken serum üre azot düzeyi optimum Arj gereksin...

Öz Amaç: Bu araştırma sıklık stresi altındaki broylerlerde rasyona farklı düzeylerde organik ve inorganik manganez (Mn) ilave edilmesinin performans, karkas ve kan parametreleri üzerine etkilerinin incelenmesi amacıyla yapıldı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmada toplam 1000 adet günlük yaşta broyler civciv her biri 100 civcivden oluşan 1 kontrol ve 9 deneme grubuna ayrıldı. Kontrol grubu temel rasyonla, deneme grupları ise temel rasyona sırasıyla 6.25, 12.5 ve 25 mg/kg düzeylerinde organik Mn (Mn-metiyonin), 12.5, 25 ve 50 mg/kg inorganik Mn (Mn-oksit), 3.125 + 6.25, 6.25 + 12.5 ve 12.5 + 25 mg/kg organik + inorganik Mn (Mn-metiyonin+Mn-oksit) ilave edilerek beslendi. Bulgular: Araştırmada yaşama gücünün organik ve inorganik Mn ilavesi ile 29-49 ve 0-49 günlük dönemlerde arttığı belirlendi (P<0.001). Canlı ağırlık artışının 15. güne kadar 3.125 + 6.25 mg/ kg Mn-metiyonin + Mn-oksit grubunda arttığı bulundu (P<0.05). Relatif dalak ağırlığının 49. gün yemlerine 12.5 mg/kg Mn-metiyonin ve 6.25 + 12.5 mg/kg Mn-metiyonin + Mn-oksit gruplarında diğer gruplardan daha yüksek olduğu (P<0.05), 6.25 mg/kg + 12.5 mg/ kg Mn-metiyonin + Mn-oksit grubunda abdominal yağ miktarının kontrol grubuna göre daha düşük olduğu (P<0.05) bulundu. Heterofil/lenfosit oranının ise Mn-metiyonin grupları ile 25, 50 mg/kg Mn-oksit ve 3.125 Mn-metiyonin + 6.25 mg/kg Mn-oksit karışımı eklenen gruplarda 49. gün düşük olduğu bulundu (P<0.05). Öneri: Barındırma stresinde bulunan broyler piliçlerde 12.5 mg/kg organik Mn ile 3.125 + 6.25 mg/kg ve 6.25 + 12.5 mg/kg organik ve inorganik Mn karışımı ilave edilmiş yemlerle beslenmesinin performans, yaşama gücü ve stres yanıtı üzerine olumlu etkiler oluşturduğu kanaatine varıldı.

The presence of water buffalo in Turkey dates back to 3000 BC. These animals, known as Anatolian water buffalo, have 50 chromosomes and belong to the riverine buffalo group. This is the only breed of water buffalo in Turkey. Anatolian water buffaloes are covered with a black or gray skin and sparse hair cover. Some water buffalo might have white markings on their foreheads and the tip of their tails. The horns of Anatolian water buffalo are bow-like and arc backwards. Calves are black at birth. However, at the age of 3-6 months they become reddish-brown. At the age of 10-12 months they become black again. Anatolian water buffaloes are very resistant to sudden changes in feed as well as diseases (1). The current number of these animals is 172,181 heads and they are generally raised for meat and milk (2,3). The loss of calves is of major economic importance in Turkey, as in the world (4). Different researchers suggested that factors such as birth season, genotype, and sex may affect vitality (5-10). In some studies carried out with Murrah, Nili-Ravi, and Surti breeds, the mortality rate was reported between 5% and 49.90% (4,7,10-15). Body measurements taken at different times were ages with rate of growth and also economic features, such as viability (11). In the studies conducted by Izgi and Asker (16), Sekerden (17), Sekerden et al. (18), Sekerden and Tapki (19), and Sekerden (20), it was reported that some body measurements of Anatolian buffalo calves were affected by factors such as genotype, sex, year of birth, parity, and birth season. Studies carried out for Anatolian water buffaloes and crosses revealed that birth weight was between 26.50 and 32.30 kg (21, 22). Weight at 6 months of age was from 109.40 to 112.30 kg, while weight at 12 months was 178.40-181.00 kg (20,21). Sekerden (17,20) reported that the overall means for withers height were 96.30 and 106.30 cm at 6 and 12 months of age. The same researcher showed that the overall means of body length, chest depth, chest width, chest circumference, and cannon-bone circumference for 6 and 12 months of ages were 90.

The study was carried out with the participation of 80 people consisting of transporters, drivers and animal care personnel who deal with animal handling processes and live in the centre of Muş province and its districts where most of animal transporters settle. The questionnaire consists of three parts; the socio-demographic characteristics of participants are examined in part one. Part two analyses the attitude scale based on cognitive, emotional and behavioural aspects of animal welfare during transport; and, the third part evaluates the perception scale such as shelter, feeding, staff, health and other factors which determine the perception of staff towards the factors affecting animal welfare. The results obtained from the research showed that perception and attitude of the personnel assigned for animal transportation might affect the welfare of animals during transportation. Staff employed in animal handling and transportation in Mus Province is insufficient with respect to animal welfare knowledge and experience, and their attitude is shaped mostly by cognitive and emotional aspects. This study has come to the conclusion that in order to improve human-animal relations and its quality and ultimately animal welfare, the staff employed in the whole process must be evaluated thoroughly, and the fact that most transportations out of Mus consist of at least 8 or more hours of traveling should be taken into consideration in order to benefit from staff training and cognitive behavioural intervention techniques.Key Words: Animal Transport, Animal Welfare, Attitude, Perception, Staff Muş İlinde Canlı Hayvan Nakilleri Sırasında Hayvan Bakım ve İdaresini Yapan PersonelinHayvan Refahına İlişkin Algı ve Tutumları ÖZ Bu araştırma Muş il merkezi ve bazı ilçelerinde yaşayan 80 hayvan nakliyecisi, araç sürücüsü ve hayvan bakıcısının katılımıyla yapılmıştır. Anket üç bölümden oluşmaktadır; birinci bölümde katılımcıların sosyo-demografik özellikleri incelenmiştir. İkinci bölüm bilişsel, duygusal ve davranışsal boyutlara dayanan hayvan refahı tutum ölçeği ve üçüncü bölüm nakil personelinin hayvan refahını etkileyen barındırma, besleme, personel, sağlık ve diğer faktörlere ilişkin algı ölçeğinden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada elde edilen sonuçlar, hayvan nakillerinde görevli personelin hayvan refahı algı ve tutumunun idare ettikleri hayvan nakillerinde hayvanların refahını etkileyebileceğini göstermiştir. Muş ilinde gerçekleşen hayvan nakillerinde görevli personelin hayvan refahı konusunda bilgi ve becerisinin yetersiz olduğu ve hayvan refahına ilişkin personel tutumunda bilişsel ve duygusal boyutların ağırlık taşıdığı anlaşılmıştır. Sonuç olarak çoğunluğu sekiz saati aşan uzun yol nakiller olan Muş ilinde gerçekleşen nakillerde insan-hayvan etkileşimlerinin düzeyini ve kalitesini arttırmak için nakilde görevli personelin algı ve tutumunun geliştirilmesi için personel eğitimi ve bilişsel davranışçı müdahale tekniklerinden yararlanılabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Abstract. This study was carried out to determine the presence of polymorphisms in genes affecting litter size. The SNPs in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B (BMPR1B), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) genes were detected in 60 uniparous and 60 multiparous ewes from Ramlıç and Dağlıç breeds. The ewes are maintained in nine public herds at the breeding station of the Afyonkarahisar Sheep and Goats Breeders' Association and lambed in two consecutive breeding seasons. PCR and DNA sequencing analyses were conducted, and 36, 4, and 11 SNPs in Ramlıç and 40, 3, and 11 SNPs in Dağlıç were detected in BMPR1B, BMP15, and GDF9 genes, respectively. A total of 16 SNPs in Ramlıç and 10 SNPs in Dağlıç breeds for three genes were found to be significant (P<0.05). The resulting analyses showed that four SNPs (g.49496G>A, c.1658A>C, c.2037C>T, c.2053C>T) of the BMPR1B gene and one deletion mutation (c.28_30delCTT) in the BMP15 gene of the Ramlıç breed as well as five SNPs (c.1487C>A, c.2492C>T, c.2523G>A, c.2880A>G, and c.2763G>A) of the BMPR1B gene of the Dağlıç breed have significant positive regression coefficients in the desired direction of the rare allele. The observed mutations have potential to be used as genetic markers in the selection of prolific animals for both breeds.

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••• The Effects of Human-Animal Interactions on Animal Welfare S U M M A R YThe effects of human-animal interactions on animal welfare and productivity are very important. The demographic characteristics, beliefs about mental abilities of animals, religious and cultural beliefs, and values and norms are effects on attitudes and behavior of stockpeople towards to animals. In this paper the factors affecting the human-animal interactions and the effects of this interaction on animal welfare and productivity will be discussed. In addition to some innovative methods are studied like as the attitudinal-behavioral modification treatments consisting of cognitive-behavioral intervention procedures and cognitive-training program designs which target specific attitude-behavior areas in which the individual stockperson requires improvement will be discussed.