Funda Erdoğan Ataç

This study aims to evaluate the current status of animal production, with a specific focus on small ruminant breeding in Kyrgyzstan. Data from FAOSTAT and the Kyrgyz State Statistics Institution covering the years 2000–2022 were analyzed. Due to limitations in available data, sheep and goats were sometimes evaluated together under the category of "sheep," while cattle were assessed as dairy animals for milk production. Collected data were organized into tables, and averages and percentages were calculated and interpreted. Kyrgyzstan's population reached 6.5 million in 2021, with the rural population declining from 64.51% in 2000 to 61.45% in 2021. The area allocated to livestock within agricultural lands increased from 0.03 LSU/ha in 2000 to 0.05 LSU/ha by 2021. Sheep production expanded significantly, with a population of 5.515.593 in 2022, accounting for 88.90% of the total small ruminant population. Meanwhile, goat numbers saw notable fluctuations, with a declining trend after 2015. Sheep meat production almost doubled, reaching 73.038 tons by 2022, whereas goat meat production showed variability, with a peak in 2010 followed by a decrease in subsequent years. Small ruminant farming is integral to Kyrgyzstan's economy and cultural identity. Addressing challenges such as climate variability, pasture degradation, and limited infrastructure through modern livestock practices and sustainable pasture management can significantly improve productivity. Government investment in veterinary services, market access, and infrastructure is critical for sustainable development.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of bucks’ sexual experience on the mating performance of does. Therefore, experienced bucks with high mating efficiency and sexual experience must be included in the mating program to increase herd fertility. Material and Methods: Fifteen sexually inexperienced young bucks were housed individually in pens with six estrus synchronized does. Ninety female Saanen x Hair does, divided into 15 groups of 6 were used in the experiment. Data was collected through direct observation and by use of closed-circuit cameras same time term for two years. Sexual behavior characteristics of bucks such as: number of times mounted, time taken to mount, number of ejaculations, ejaculation time, mating efficiency, courtship behavior and effects of mating behaviors on fertility rate of does were evaluated. Mating efficiency scores of bucks and the pregnancy and the fertility rate of does were calculated in the first, and second years. Paired samples t test was performed to determine differences between the years and correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between the variables for each year. Arcsine transformation was applied to data obtained by percentage. To determine the relationship between the variable sets, canonical correlation analysis was applied to the transformed data. Results: In the first year, litter size and fertility rate were found to be 1.26 and 21%, respectively. In the second year, these increased to 2.93 and 69%, respectively. Mating efficiency scores of bucks for the first and second year was calculated as 0.10 and 0.60, respectively. Results showed that the experienced mature bucks had a very significant effect on the mating performance of the doe and, consequently, on herd productivity. Conclusion: Sexual performance traits in bucks affect the conception rate of does. By observing changes in the rates of sexual behaviors, the achievement of mating with timely intervention can be increased. It is recommended to evaluate the sexual behavior of bucks, testicular measurements and semen characteristics together.

The data of 60 male Chios lambs raised in western Turkey on a farm registered with the Sheep and Goat Breeders' Association were used. Two datasets were generated to determine the correlations between weaning (90 d) and six-month traits in lambs. A canonical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between body weight measured at the weaning period and six morphological traits —dataset X-weaning weight (WW), body length (BL), wither height (WH), heart girth (HG), chest width (CW), rump width (RW), and rump length (RL)— and body weight measured at six months and six morphological traits —dataset Y-body weight (LW_6), body length (BL_6), wither height (WH_6), heart girth (HG_6), chest width (CW_6), rump width (RW_6), and rump length (RL_6). Only the first (U1V1) of the seven pairs of canonical dimensions was statistically significant. The contribution of body weight, WH, and RW to the explanatory effect of canonical variables estimated from morphological traits of Chios lambs was greater at weaning age than other body measurements. Canonical correlation analysis and variables (U1 and V1) can be used as a generic measure of variables, X and Y, respectively. The cross-loadings indicated that body weight, RW, and WH in the weaning period were more effective in V1 determination than other traits; WH, RL, and LW_6 were more influential in U1 determination. This study is the first to use canonical correlation analysis to determine the correlation between live weight and body measurements in Chios lambs, presenting early selection criteria for Chios lamb breeding studies.

One of the most important problems encountered in breeding Turkish Saanen goats, the dominant dairy goat in Turkey, is the death of kids. Deaths cause serious economic losses and jeopardize the need for qualified breeders. This study aimed to determine the factors that affected the survival of kids in the period between birth and weaning, when most deaths are observed. A total of 3343 records of Turkish Saanen kids were collected in 2019. The importance and order of the effects of environmental factors, such as gender, birth type, sex, birth weight, farm, season of birth, weight at death, and maternal age at the kid’s mortality were determined by using the decision tree statistical method. As a result of this study, the farm effect was the first effective factor in the survivability of kids, and death was less common in small farms (F3), with a rate of 7.8%. The death times of kids were divided into four groups: birth–first 24 hours (M1), 1–7 days (M2), 7–30 days (M3), and 30 days–weaning (90 days) (M4). Deaths were highest in M2 with 40.1% and least in M3 with 5.7%. The death weight variable had a primary effect on deaths. This was followed by birth weight, then farm variables. Two other factors came to the forefront to increase the survivability of the kids: deaths could be greatly reduced by providing good nutrition to the mothers in the prenatal period and offering good management, especially in the first week after birth, to obtain offspring with higher birth weights.

Data on 4487 Turkish Saanen kids from 176 bucks and 1318 dam-goats, obtained from the Turkish Saanen goats in the Izmir region and collected between 2018 and 2019, were analyzed to examine the effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on growth traits. The average birth weight of the kids was determined as 3.33 ± 0.68 kg, the average W60 was 13.06 ± 2.94 kg, the average WW was 18.38 ± 4.14 kg, and the average PreWDG until weaning was 0.17 ± 0.04 g. Model 1, which does not account for the maternal effect, and Model 2, which includes the maternal effect, were used in the estimation of genetic parameters. The heritability estimates of BW, W60, WW, and PreWDG ranged from 0.05 to 0.59 in both models. It is recommended to consider the maternal effect as well as the environmental factors in the selection program for the best early breeder selection of kids growing alongside their mothers until the weaning period.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the lactation curves of Saanen goats by using individual milk yields in the early, mid and 0-6 months periods of lactation. For this purpose, Wood’s lactation curve was used to estimate lactation yields. Material and Methods: Milk yields of Saanen goats in different periods of lactation were estimated. For this purpose, the Wood’s lactation curve model was adapted to a total of 480 milk yield measured at 14-day intervals of 40 Saanen goats. Milk yields of goats in the first three months of lactation in January-March, mid-lactation in April-June, and 0-6 months in January-June were estimated. Results: According to the harmony of Wood's model, the determination of coefficient values of the estimations of milk yields in the first, mid-lactation and 0-6 months of lactation are 0.84, 0.87 and 0.84, respectively. The root mean square errors of Wood's model are 0.91 for the first period of lactation, 0.81 for the mid-lactation period and 0.30 for the from 0 to 6 months of lactation period. Conclusions: According to the results obtained in this study, Wood's model was found sufficient to define the lactation curve in Saanen goats. However, it would be beneficial to conduct similar studies with larger herds and yield records.

This study was conducted to determine some of the reproductive characteristics of young Chios rams. For the purposes of this study, the data was obtained and used from 30 Chios ram lambs born in 2009 between the ages of 90-360 days. The minimum and maximum values of the testicular diameter (cm) and length (cm), scrotal circumference (cm), scrotal length (cm), testicular volume (cm3) of the Chios ram lambs were 1.59-7.30, 3.05-14.23, 12.00-37.50, 7.00-32.00, 17.39-771.44, respectively. Phenotypic correlations between all testis characteristics were found to be statistically significant (P0.05). The testicular diameter and volume, scrotal circumference and scrotal length enlarged related with positively the rate of the sperm motility. As a result, estimating the rate of live spermatozoa of the ram lambs by taking morphological measurements at an early age can be useful. Therefore, this information was vulnerable in indirect selection programs.