Village chickens have been kept for millennia under patronage of smallholder farmers. Our study was intended at dissecting the signature of artificial selection and ecological variation on morphological structures of Ethiopian village chickens. This report was based on visual traits of 798 chickens and a concise one-to-one interview of 399 farmers for their preferences on chicken morphology. Significant population-specific differences in morphological counts were commonly found for rare morphological variants. Most of them were frequently seen in Jarso chickens, while some of them unique to Jarso chickens. This might be explained by the effect of location-specific evolutionary forces and differences in their breeding histories. The high within population variation in the frequency of morphological counts was observed among these panmictic chicken populations largely evolved under uncontrolled mating. Single comb was not (less) preferred by majority of the farmers (93.8 percent); it was thus present at a low frequency (26.7 percent). Farmers have shown high preference for yellow shank (42.3 percent), which was then frequently observed (61.1 percent). The reported reasons for morphological likeness were visual appeal, market demand and cultural and religious values. The absence of significant variation in preferences for chicken morphology among communities between the two study sites was attributed to their multifunctional needs.

Signature of artificial selection and ecological landscape on morphological structures of Ethiopian village chickens

Applied Animal Endocrinology

During winter, free-living herbivores are often exposed to reduced energy supply at the same time that energy needs for thermoregulation increase. Several wild herbivores as well as robust horse breeds reduce their metabolism during times of low ambient temperature and food shortage. Thyroid hormones (THs) affect metabolic intensity and a positive effect of THs on basal metabolic rate (BMR) has been demonstrated in mammals and birds. As BMR and field metabolic rate (FMR) are often assumed to be intrinsically linked, THs may represent a reliable indicator for FMR. To test this hypothesis, 10 Shetland pony mares were kept under semi-extensive central European conditions. During the winter season, one group was fed 60% and one group 100% of their maintenance energy requirements. We measured FMR, locomotor activity, resting heart rate and TH levels in summer and winter. FMR, locomotor activity, resting heart rate and total T3 concentrations decreased substantially in winter compared with summer, whereas total T4 increased. Food restriction led to a reduced FMR and resting heart rate, while THs and locomotor activity were not affected. Across both seasons, FMR, resting heart rate and locomotor activity were positively correlated with total T3 but negatively and more weakly correlated with total T4.

Thyroid hormones correlate with field metabolic rate in ponies, Equus ferus caballus

The objective of this research was to evaluate the biochemical and hormonal parameters of Santa Ines sheep that received diets with different levels of guava agro-industrial waste (GAW). Forty non-castrated male animals of the Santa Ines breed were used, with an average initial weight of 21.3 ± 2.6 kg, and an average age of 120 days. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and eight replicates, and fed with increasing GAW levels replacing hay (0.0, 7.5, 15.0, 22.5 and 30.0%). After the beginning of the diet period, blood samples were collected every 2 weeks approximately 3 h after feeding. Cholesterol concentration had a significant effect (P < 0.01) with the inclusion of GAW. The animals that ingested the control diet had the highest concentrations of cholesterol. T3 and T4 hormones showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) among the treatments, i.e. the animals that ingested the control diet had the lowest concentrations of these hormones. We concluded that the inclusion of GAW in up to 30% decreases the concentration of cholesterol and increases the concentrations of T3 and T4 in the blood, aiding the metabolism of the animals.

Biochemical and hormonal parameters of lambs using guava ( Psidium guajava L.) agro-industrial waste in the diet

This study was conducted to validate a commercial testosterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (DRG EIA-1559) in analytic and biological manner for measuring serum testosterone concentrations in kacang goats. This study used 18 healthy kacang goats, six bucks (>2 years), six kids ( 2 years). Blood samples were collected from jugular vein and prepared as serum. Two validation tests were performed, an analytical validation comprises a parallelism, accuracy, precision and sensitivity and a biological validation by comparing testosterone concentration from bucks, kids, and does. Testosterone concentrations were measured using ELISA technique. Data of analytical validation were analyzed descriptively and test of equality of slope was performed to see the parallelism between samples and standard curves. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for biological validation data. Results of parallelism showed that sample curve was parallel to the standard curve. Accuracy, precision (% CV of intra-and inter-assay) and sensitivity of the assay were 99.65±4.27%, <10%, <15% and 0.083 ng/ml, respectively. Results of biological validation showed that the assay used were accurately measured testosterone which testosterone concentrations in bucks were significantly higher compared to kids and does (P<0.05). In conclusion, a commercial testosterone ELISA kits (DRG EIA-1559) is a reliable assay for measuring serum testosterone concentration in kacang goats. Key words: analytical and biological validations, ELISA, testosterone, kacang goat

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MEASUREMENT OF SERUM TESTOSTERONE IN KACANG GOAT BYUSING ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) TECHNIQUE: THE IMPORTANCE OF KIT VALIDATION (Pengukuran Testosteron Serum Kambing Kacang dengan Teknik Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): Pentingnya Validasi Kit)

Susceptibility to 'scrapie' disease in goats is influenced by polymorphisms of the prion protein (PRNP) gene The aim of this study was to identify PRNP gene polymorphisms in a total of 356 scrapie disease-free goats from 10 Turkish native breeds Eighteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the caprine PRNP open-reading frame Ten previously described amino acid substitutions (I142M, H143R, N146S, N146D, R151H, R154H, P168Q, R211Q, Q222K and P240S) and two novel dimorphisms (G134E and Q163P) were identified The strongest association between caprine PRNP and relative resistance to scrapie disease has been reported previously for polymorphisms at codons 146 (S/D) and 222 (K) In the present study, these three PrP variants were relatively rare with 63% This is the first report on PRNP gene variation in Turkish native goat breeds and our knowledge of these polymorphisms will assist goat breeding programmes to reduce the risk of scrapie

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Prion protein gene polymorphisms in Turkish native goat breeds.

Yeryuzunun en onemli gen merkezlerinden birinde yer alan Turkiye’nin zengin biyolojik cesitliligini korumak ve gerektiginde kullanmak zorunluluk olarak kabul edilmelidir. Cunku biyolojik cesitlilik ekonomik ve genetik zenginligin bir gostergesi olup, tip, tarim, gida guvencesi ve endustride onemli yararlar saglamaktadir. Ciftlik hayvanlari genetik kaynaklari, biyolojik cesitliligin onemli bir parcasini olusturmaktadir. Turkiye'de hayvan genetik kaynaklari yeterince degerlendirilememis, hatta bazilari daha tam olarak tanimlanmadan yok olmus veya yok olma tehlikesi ile karsi karsiya kalmistir. Bazi irklar bilimsel kriterlere gore risk sinirinin disinda kabul edilmekle birlikte, azalma hizinin cok yuksek oldugu irklarda mevcut sayinin risk sinirina, hatta bu sinirin da altina kisa surede dusecegi beklenmektedir. Bu durum; ekonomik, sosyal ve cevresel gelismelerin hayvancilikta farkli yerlerde cesitli duzeylerde olmak uzere entansiflesmeyi zorunlu kilmasi, az girdi ile yetistirilebilen, buna karsilik dusuk verimli olan yerli irklarin yerini hizli bir sekilde kultur irklari veya melezlerinin almasinin sonucudur. Oysa yerli irklar yuzyillardir yetistirilegeldikleri cevrenin kendine ozgu kosullarina cok iyi uyum saglamis, verimleri dusuk olsa bile ozgun nitelikleri olan, dayanikli, kanaatkar, yetersiz cevre kosullarinda ureyebilen hayvanlardan olusur. Yerli irklarin yok olmasi, tasidiklari bu ayirici ozelliklerin de yok olmasi anlamina gelmektedir. Gelecekte bu ozelliklerin hangisine gereksinme duyulacagini simdiden tahmin etmek guc veya olanaksizdir. Kaldi ki bu gen kaynaklarinin bugun saptanmamis olan olasi ozellikleri de ancak bunlarin varliklarini surdurebilmesi halinde elde tutulabilir. Belirtilen noktalardan hareketle; bildiride Turkiye Yerli Koyun Irklarinin korunmasinin gerekliligi, korumaya alinacak irklarin belirlenmesi, koruma yontemleri, Turkiye koyun irklarinin mevcut durumu, bunlarin korunmasina yonelik cabalar, korumayla ilgili olarak karsilasilan sorunlar ve alinmasi gereken onlemler uzerinde durulmaktadir

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Türkiye yerli koyun ırklarının korunması

The levels of thyroid hormones are important indicator of metabolic activity . The knowledge of the metabolic activity in different physiological periods, animals readjusted dietary regimen. Therefore, in this study, changes of triiodotironine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) hormones in the blood serum of female (n =14) and male (n=9) white goats were studied for a duration of one year through different physiological periods (breeding (September-October), gestation (November to March), postpartum-sucking (April-May) and milking (June to August)). Results show that the differences in T3 and T4 hormone levels between sexes are statistically unimportant in breeding, gestation, postpartum -sucking and milking periods, while the changes for each sex between the physiological periods are important (p<0.05). Also, it has been found out that the thyroid hormone levels in different physiological periods are under the influence of the environmental temperature changes.

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Changes of thyroid hormones in different physiological periods in white goats

Annual Change of the Testosterone Hormone in Male White Goats

OBJECTIVE Shearing is one of the practices that is applied periodically to fiber producing animals, which can also alter resistance of animals to high temperatures in especially summer months. This study aimed to investigate effects of shearing on some physiological and hormonal parameters in Akkaraman sheep during summer season. METHODS This study was carried out on 39 non-pregnant Akkaraman ewes (aged 1.5 years at the beginning of experiment). The 39 ewes were chosen randomly from the flock belonging to the Erciyes University and they were assigned to two groups as follows: i) group A (n = 20) designed as the control group, they were shorn and group B (n = 19) designed as the experimental group, they were unshorn. Prior to the shearing (-1 day) and on days 1, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 following the shearing, blood samples were taken from the vena jugularis of each sheep. Cortisol, β-endorphin, growth hormone (GH), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) concentrations were determined using the enzyme immunoassay method. Body weight (BW), rectal temperature (RT), pulse rate (PR), and respiratory rate (RR) of each sheep were recorded at the same time. The data obtained were analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Statistical analysis showed a significant effect of shearing×period interaction (p<0.01) and a significant effect of period (p<0.01) on BW, HSP-70, cortisol, T4 and RT, PR, GH, β-endorphin, T3, respectively. Also these analysis showed no significant effect of shearing× period interaction or period on RR. CONCLUSION The results showed that the thermoregulation abilities of sheep were affected by shearing treatment and the shorn ewes were less affected by heat stress. In conclusion, based on the data of this study, shearing can be considered as a necessary management practice that requires protection for sheep from the effect of heat stress.

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Erkan Pehlivan

Papers

Prion protein gene polymorphisms in Turkish native goat breeds.

Türkiye yerli koyun ırklarının korunması

Changes of thyroid hormones in different physiological periods in white goats

Annual Change of the Testosterone Hormone in Male White Goats

Effect of shearing on some physiological and hormonal parameters in Akkaraman sheep