The aim of this study is to determine fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics of single and twin male Honamlı kids raised under semi- intensive conditions. In the study, 90 ...day-olds (weaned at the age of 75 days and the 15-day period of adaptation to feeding), 10 single and 10 twin Honamlı male kids were fattened for 56 days and all kids were sent for slaughter at the end of the fattening period. Final average live weights were found to be 34.4 kg and 30.4 kg for single and twin kids. Average daily live weight gain during fattening was 203 g for single kids and 231 g for twin kids. Hot carcass weights obtained after slaughter were 14.47 kg and 12.43 kg; dressing percentages calculated based on empty body weight were determined to be 52.46% and 51.11% for single and twin kids, respectively (P>0.05). Cold carcass weights were determined to be 14.19 kg and 11.17 kg for single and twin kids, respectively; cold carcass yields calculated based on empty body weight were determined to be 51.53% and 50.04% for single and twin kids. The surface areas of M. longissimus dorsi (MLD) were found to be 13.39 cm2 and 12.43 cm2, respectively. Withers height, rump height, body length, chest girth, and nose length of single kids were relatively higher compared to twin kids at the end of the fattening period.
This study has been carried out in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey on seven different Honamli goat flocks. The aim of this study was to determine the growth characters, survival rate (till ...weaning, 105th day), some reproductive characteristics and marketable milk yield. The data were collected from 516 does and 210 kids (125 buckling and 85 doelings). The results indicate that the numbers of multiple birth and litter size were 32.8 % and 1.35 respectively. Survival rates of kids at the 30th, 90th, and 105th days were 98.5, 97.2, and 97.2 %, respectively. The average birth weight for the buckling and doelings was 4.1 and 3.7 kg, respectively. The average weaning weights for buckling and doelings were 26.9 and 23.4 kg, respectively. The effects of dams’ age, on sex and birth type on the growth of Honamli kids were statistically significant (
p
< 0.05,
p
< 0.01, and
p
< 0.001). While the diameters of erythrocytes of Honamli goats are smaller, the density of hemoglobin in the erythrocytes is more than Asian, Indian, and American caprine breeds. The average lactation length and marketable milk yield was assessed to be at 210.3 days and was 89 L, respectively. The growth characteristics of Honamli kids at weaning age were assessed to be higher than most of the other goat breeds in Turkey. The results further indicated that there is a significant variation in the production traits among the different Honamli goat flocks. Production traits of Honamli goats at different breeding conditions should further be investigated to come to a definite conclusion.
This study assesses the current status of dairy cattle farming in Burdur province, an important region for milk production in Turkey. The study involved 677 enterprises and found that the mean number ...of cattle per farm was 11.3 and the number of milk cows per farm was 5.9. The estimated amount of concentrated feed consumed was 7.0 ± 2.3 kg/cattle/day; forage consumption was 9.1 ± 5.2 kg/cattle/day; the weaning age for calves was 87.4 ± 13.2 days; average milk yield was 18.7 ± 5.0 l/day; average drying-off time was 6.7 ± 0.5 months; and average age of first insemination was 17.0 ± 1.0 months. Of the 677 enterprises studied, 27.2% used free-stall barns, 20.9% used closed free-stall barns, and 51.9% used tie-stall barns. The mean size of tie-stall barns was 78 ± 51 m2. Milking was performed using portable milking machines in most enterprises (93%). Nearly all (96%) enterprises lacked any form-based recording system and received no regular veterinary treatment. This study provides important new survey data on dairy cattle breeding in Turkey.
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