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This study was carried out to determine the effect of adding different ratios of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) extract (KHE) to layer hen rations on performance and egg internal-external quality parameters. In the study, 96 layer Atak-S hens at the age of 22 weeks were used. Chickens were divided into 4 groups, each consisting of six subgroups, and arranged in a way to have four chickens in each subgroup. The study was conducted over a period of 90 days. During the study, the control group was fed with basal feed, and the experimental groups were fed with feeds with 0.30%, 0.60% and 0.90% KHE added to the basal feed, respectively. Although there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of egg production (P>0.05), it was determined that the average egg production at the end of the study was numerically higher in the groups fed with KHE-containing feeds compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, live weight, egg yolk colour averages (P>0.05). In the study, it was determined that egg weight in the groups containing 0.90% KHE was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). Egg shell thickness were also significantly increased in 0.30% and 0.60% KHE containing groups (P<0.05). It was concluded that dandelion extract has a positive effect on egg quality in laying hens and more studies should be done on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the determination of Escherichia coli O157 prevalence in different poultry originated materials was aimed. For this purpose, 400 meat samples and 400 intestinal contents of Broilers grown in Kayseri, 400 stool samples of laying hens and 80 swap samples taken from various poultry processing units (boiling tank water, walls and removing unit of intestinal organs) were evaluated in this study. The materials were taken between March 2010 and February 2011 with three month intervals (each season). The isolation period was formed in phases including pre-enrichment of E.coli broth with novobiocin (20mg/L), immunomagnetic separation, and seeding on SMAC (MacConkey with sorbitol) and CHROM agar. Considering the colonies appeared on SMAC and CHROM agar, 116 of 1280 samples were found to be E.coli O157 positive. The 334 colonies taken from 116 samples were investigated with phenotypic tests for E.coli and all of them were confirmed as E.coli. These isolates were subjected to latex agglutination test for E.coli O157 and in total 8 samples, 2 broiler stools and 6 poultry processing samples, were found positive. These 8 suspicious E.coli O157 strains were found E.coli O157 negative by Polymerase Chain Reaction. The results showed that poultry and their poultry meat samples collected in this study did not carry E.coli O157 in Kayseri and the investigation of greater number of poultry originated samples from different locations for E.coli O157 is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]