THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Production and consumption data in Türkiye?
The amount of animal production and consumption in our country is shared by the public through TUIK (TURKSTAT). According to current data, the number of bovine animals in 2024 is 16 million 555 thousand and the number of ovine animals is 53 million 965 thousand. In the same period, 2,200 thousand tonnes of beef and 600 thousand tonnes of mutton were published for meat consumption. When we divide the total official production amounts by 85 million people, even if the previous year is seen as 23 kg /person-year, this information does not correspond much in the field.
What is the main reason for the rapidly surging carcass prices?
First of all, we know that commodity prices have risen worldwide in the last year. Accordingly, the increase in agricultural products, which is above the normal one, has manifested itself at the same rate in livestock production worldwide. Beef carcass prices, which were 3.4 Euro/kg on average in EU countries before the pandemic, soared by 40 percent to approximately 4.80 Euro/kg today. In our country, there has been an average increase of 50 percent in the last year as a result of supply shortages due to insufficient commodities, as well as the increase in world butchery animal prices and the increase in exchange rates. We can evaluate that these increases are due to the expectation of tourism mobility after Ramadan due to the season, and that there is an additional 15 percent foam price above normal.
How do you evaluate the impact of the Meat and Milk Board’s (ESK) import of animals (fattening, butchering and cattle, carcass) on price hikes?
It is an economic principle that animal husbandry should be under public control for its sustainable structure and development. Accordingly, when there is a production above the demand, the Meat and Milk Board purchases animals through intervention in order to prevent the producers from being victimised. At the same time, in cases where the supply is insufficient in domestic consumption, imports are implemented to both stabilise prices and meet the need. In the past weeks, prices have increased by 30%. However, the Meat and Milk Board immediately activated the import preparation made by predicting this phenomenon in advance and prevented the excessive price hike.
When we consider the producer cost factors, excessive suppression of prices is not the right method. For the continuity and sufficiency of production, price balances must first be established correctly. According to the scientific studies conducted to ensure this balance, 1.3-1.5 kg of feed should be purchased with one kg of milk and 20-22 kg of feed should be purchased with 1kg of meat.
Livestock production is a production model that develops over a long time and gives results. First of all, in order to establish animal husbandry on solid foundations in our country, we need to develop dairy farming and if necessary, produce milk slightly above our needs. Thus, the need will be met with our live stocks in times of crisis and shortage. In order for this system to work properly, the public sector should purchase excess raw milk throughout the year and produce milk powder. In this way, the needed male livestock will be supplied domestically and milk production will increase sufficiently. The public should ensure the continuity of production by purchasing the milk produced with the guarantee of purchase and not utilising the milk powder product obtained as a commercial commodity, but should ensure the continuity of production by consuming it domestically or exporting it and even sending it to the 3rd world countries as aid…
By Dr. Ahmet Yücesan,
Veterinary Surgeon,
Chair of the Union of Red Meat Industrialists and Producers (ETBIR)
Source: tgdf.org.tr
