Press release…
National Red Meat Council (UKON) Chairman Hacıince: ‘Imports should be based on planning’
Ahmet Hacıince, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Red Meat Council, said: “It is among the expectations of our sector that the import of fattening cattle should be based on a good planning and the market regulation activities of the Meat and Milk Institute (ESK) should be carried out on time and in proportion to the need.”
In his written statement, Hacıince stated that more long-term and integrated planning should be established in the production of red meat, which is a strategic food source.
Drawing attention to the negativities experienced in ovine production, Hacıince demanded that measures to make lamb meat valuable be implemented. “For this purpose, it is necessary to seriously focus on issues such as the protection, improvement and management of pastures, activation of studies on the solution of the shepherd problem, encouraging and encouraging the consumption and production of ovine meat,” Hacıince noted.
Pointing out that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry should develop effective programmes to meet the entire need for fattening material from the domestic market, Hacıince explained, “It has been observed that the application of low-priced barley allocation by Turkish Grain Board (TMO) to animal owners is beneficial in terms of reducing production costs. It is also beneficial to apply the same support in maize. In addition, progress in the supply of quality roughage will reduce the need for concentrated feed. In this direction, it is of strategic importance to utilise pastures more and increase fodder plant production.”
“IT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH THE SECTOR THAT CATTLE WILL BE IMPORTED”
Indicating that it is a great necessity to take concrete steps on the carcass classification and slaughter standard application and to put it into practice as soon as possible, Hacıince added, “Due to the climate change in the world, we expect the cultivation of drought-resistant fodder crops to be widespread in our country and priority to be given to studies on this issue. In addition to these, it is also among the expectations of our sector that the import of feeder cattle (stocker) should be based on a good planning and how much feeder cattle will be imported during the year should be shared with the sector and the market regulation activities of the Meat and Milk should be carried out on time and in proportion to the need.”