Changes in the livestock composition and milk production of Turkey in the last century

The number of livestock in Turkey is 48.7 million. The livestock population is mainly composed of sheep (60.44%), cattle (22.65%), goats (16.55%) and buffaloes (0.36%). After reaching its maximum number (84.6 m) in 1980, a considerable decrease has occurred in the last two decades in the population of Angora goats (85.4%), buffalo (83%), hair goat (51.1%), sheep (39.5%) and cattle (30.6%). Total milk production in Turkey, on the other hand, has increased from 2.84 m ton to 9.97 m ton in the last century. The contribution of buffalo, goat and sheep milk in the total production has also decreased. The share of total sheep, goat and buffalo milk is now only 11.4%, compared to the 88.6% contribution of cattle milk in total production. Research to improve the livestock production genetically and environmentally have been continued since the establishment of the Turkish Republic. In addition to semen importation, a huge number of pure-bred exotic cattle were imported as pregnant heifers in the last two decades. The proportions of native, crossbred and exotic cattle in the population are 45 %, 30.1% and 24.9%, respectively. Sheep, goat and buffalo populations mainly consist of native breeds. About 15 native cattle breeds and two native sheep breeds became extinct in the last century because of heavy cross-breeding without well-organised genetic improvement and genetic conservation programs. The changes in composition of livestock populations in milk production and milk consumption in the last century are reviewed in this article.