A morphometric study on skulls of Hasmer and Hasak sheep breeds / Un estudio morfométrico de cráneos de razas de ovejas Hasmer y Hasak

SUMMARY: The aim of the study was to investigate the head structures of two domestic sheep breeds (Hasak and Hasmer) in Turkey. Gender neutral eight adult Hasmer sheep of 45-66 kg and eight Hasak sheep breeds of 43-66 kg obtained from Bahri Dag˘das¸ International Agricultural Research Institute were used in this study. Measurements were made using digital caliper from 40 points on the skulls of both species. The skull of Hasmer sheep (265.56 ± 14.08) was longer than the skull of Hasak sheep (262.86 ± 9.65). However, the length of the arcus alveolaris maxillaris (77.01 ± 5.08), the length of the molar teeth (50.81 ± 1.22) and the length of the premolar teeth (26.16 ± 4.62) of Hasak sheep were compared to the Hasmer sheep (71.59, ± 5.25; 47.99 ± 3.64; 24.03 ± 3.76, respectively) was observed to be greater. According to these findings, although the skull length of Hasak sheep was shorter than that of Hasmer sheep and arcus alveolaris maxillaris in which molar and premolar teeth were placed was longer. In Hasmer sheep the values of greatest breadth of the foramen magnum, height of the foramen magnum (basion - opisthion), greatest neurocranium breadth-greatest breadth of the braincase (euryon - euryon) were higher than those of Hasak sheep. The difference between these values was also statistically significant (p <0.05). The lateral length of the premaxilla (nasointermaxillare- prosthion) parameter measured between these two species was statistically very important (p <0.01). In conclusion, in this study craniometric values depending on skull morphology of Hasmer and Hasak sheep which accepted as native breeds of Turkey were tried, to reveal similarities and differences with other sheep breeds in both amongst themselves.

El objetivo del estudio fue investigar las estructuras de la cabeza de dos razas de ovejas domésticas (Hasak y Hasmer) de Turquía. En este estudio se utilizaron ocho ovejas Hasmer adultas de género neutral de 45-66 kg y ocho ovejas de raza Hasak de 43-66 kg, obtenidas del Instituto Internacional de Investigación Agrícola Bahri Dagdas. Las mediciones en los cráneos de ambas especies se realiza-ron con caliper digital de 40 puntos. El cráneo de la oveja Hasmer (265,56 ± 14,08 mm) era más largo que el cráneo que el de la oveja Hasak (262,86 ± 9,65 mm). En las ovejas Hasak la longitud del arcus alveolaris maxillaris fue 77,01 ± 5,08 mm, la longitud de los dientes molares fue 50,81 ± 1,22 mm y la longitud de los dientes premolares fue de 26,16 ± 4,62 mm, en cambio en las ovejas Hasmer fue de 71,59 ± 5,25 mm; 47,99 ± 3,64 mm; 24,03 ± 3,76 mm, respectivamente. Según estos hallazgos, la longitud del cráneo de la oveja Hasak era más corta que la de la oveja Hasmer y el arcus alveolaris maxillaris en el que se colocaron los dientes molares y premolares era más largo. En ovinos Hasmer los valores de mayor amplitud del foramen magnum, altura del foramen magnum (basion - opisthion), mayor amplitud del neurocráneo-mayor amplitud de la caja craneana (euryon - euryon) fueron superiores a los de las ovejas Hasak. La diferencia entre estos valores también fue estadísticamente significativa (p <0,05). El parámetro de longitud lateral del premaxilar (nasointermaxillare-prosthion) medido entre estas dos especies fu estadísticamente significativo (p <0.01). En conclusión, los valores craneométricos en relación a la morfología del cráneo de las ovejas Hasmer y Hasak que se definieron como razas autóctonas de Turquía revelaron similitudes y diferencias con otras razas de ovejas.

Effects of age and sex on some hematological and biochemical parameters in Hair goats.

This study was performed to determine the blood reference values of hematological and biochemical parameters in Hair goats at different ages. For this aim, clinically healthy Hair goats (n = 180, ages of six month and 1-3 years male and female) were used to collect blood samples. In whole blood, white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)and red cell distribution width (RDW) were evaluated. The levels of, albumin, total protein, globulin, glucose, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and iron levels were investigated in sera. Age and sex had no effect on the cell structures of blood. In the either sex (male or female), age had no effect. However, sex had a significant effect on the blood cell structures except for WBC, HGB, and HCT. Albumin, protein, calcium, AST, ALT, ALP and magnesium values were not different among groups. Both the age and sex of the goats had significant effects on blood levels of glucose, phosphorus, urea, cholesterol, creatinine, GGT, CK and total bilirubin. In conclusion, this was the first study reporting the hematologic and biochemical parameters in blood of the Hair goats. The results indicated that these parameters could show variations under physiological conditions due to age and gender.