Dr. Ercan Mevliyaoğulları

An academic path shaped by bird nutrition

His interest in animal nutrition developed during his studies in the Division of Feed Science and Animal Nutrition at Çukurova University. He completed his undergraduate degree in 2013, with a graduation thesis on the nutrition of canaries and other cage birds. Bird nutrition subsequently became a central subject of both his scientific research and MEVLİ’s early product development.

During his master’s research at Çukurova University from 2014 to 2016, he investigated pre-weaning feeding systems in Holstein bull calves and their relationship with subsequent fattening performance. Working across species broadened his approach to nutrition, with particular attention to the animal’s stage of development and husbandry conditions.

Connecting nutrition with processing technology

From 2018 to 2022, he pursued his PhD in Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases at Kırıkkale University. His doctoral research investigated surplus bread as an alternative ingredient in dog food. The research examined how baking and extrusion affect physicochemical properties and digestibility measured in the laboratory.

In 2024, his postdoctoral work on texture, rheology, additives and product development connected feed composition with the behaviour of materials during processing. The relationship between ingredient flow properties, processing conditions and finished-product structure was central to this research.

Building MEVLİ since 2015

While completing his master’s degree, he founded MEVLİ in 2015 to apply his knowledge of animal nutrition to product development. The company began with feed for canaries and other cage birds. Its research later expanded to egg-based foods, alternative protein sources, the reuse of food resources and extruded feed technologies.

Mevliyaoğulları designed and led four completed R&D projects at MEVLİ. Their scope included bird food development, the establishment of a pilot production facility, wet milling and extrusion for dog food production, and extruded feeds for racing and show pigeons.

Considering formulation and processing within the same programme of work helped shape MEVLİ’s development. Alongside research on ingredients, production methods and product characteristics, the company’s applied activities included feeding practices and the monitoring of breeding records in cage birds. Academic research, pilot production and work with animals became complementary parts of the business.

Scientific publications and research interests

His research has appeared in international journals including the Journal of Cereal Science, BMC Veterinary Research and Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science. Major subjects include alternative ingredients in dog food, the nutritional composition of canary foods and the physicochemical characteristics of pigeon feeds. Studies of canary feeding, mating, breeding records, early development and husbandry conditions complement this work.

His research also covers calf feeding, milk composition, rumination behaviour, animal welfare and the use of local resources. Nutrigenomics, which examines interactions between nutrition and genes, is another area of interest. His books and book chapters address canary, pigeon and dog nutrition, alternative proteins, amino acid balance, medicinal and aromatic plants, and the environmental aspects of animal production.

His work has featured at scientific meetings in Japan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Alongside academic publications, he has prepared technical articles for breeders and producers, contributing to the application of scientific knowledge in feeding and husbandry.

Teaching and academic supervision

From 2025 to September 2026, he served as a lecturer and assistant professor. His teaching covered feed science and animal nutrition, sustainable agriculture, organic animal husbandry, and animal behaviour and welfare.

In the spring term of 2022–2023, he taught pet animal care and nutrition and animal products technology at Kırıkkale University.

He prepared teaching materials on nutritional disorders, feed technology, rumen function and husbandry practices. He supervised student research and took on co-supervision of two master’s theses in the Division of Feed Science and Animal Nutrition at Çukurova University. In teaching, he drew on his research and production experience to help students define scientific problems and relate them to practical work.

International collaboration and academic service

His participation in European COST research networks has included a management committee role representing Türkiye and membership of several working groups. Work on insect nutrition and innovative nutritional approaches has provided opportunities for scientific exchange with researchers in other countries.

He serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Veterinary and Animal Science and reviews for PLOS ONE and Veterinary and Animal Science. In 2025, he served on the organising committee of the 5th International Animal Nutrition Congress, where he also presented research on bird nutrition. These roles extend his contribution to the evaluation of scientific work and its exchange among colleagues.

MERLIVO, a brand within MEVLİ

MEVLİ’s experience in bird nutrition and feed technology provided the foundation for MERLIVO, its professional bird nutrition brand. The collection of fresh-egg foods, extruded feeds and liquid supplements for canaries and pigeons continues the company’s product development in this field.

As MEVLİ’s founder, Dr. Ercan Mevliyaoğulları continues to guide research and product development. He applies his academic experience to ingredient selection, formulation, processing technologies and pilot production, bringing the company’s scientific and technical activities together.