The Place of Animal Production in the Agricultural Sector: Economic Contributions and Future Perspectives

Abstract

This study examines the place of animal production in the agricultural sector in Türkiye, its economic contributions and its potential for the future in a multifaceted manner. According to the research findings, the share of the agricultural sector in Türkiye's 1,118.25 billion dollars of GDP in 2023 will be approximately 6%, while the share of animal production in agricultural production will be around 35%. This rate remains below the 45% level in the European Union countries, offering significant potential that can be developed. In the study, data for the period 2018-2024 were analyzed, and fluctuations in the number of large and small cattle were detected. After the increasing trend in large cattle between 2018-2021, a decrease was observed and a partial recovery was observed in 2024, while in the number of small cattle, a decrease was observed after the peak in 2021 and a tendency to increase again in 2024. In poultry farming, especially in 2024, there was a 22% increase in meat chicken production, while there was a significant decrease of 15.5% in the number of egg chickens. As a result of the research, it is recommended that feed costs be reduced for the sustainable development of Türkiye's animal production sector, the productivity of local breeds be increased, systems to adapt to climate change be developed, the organization of small and medium-sized producers be supported, digital technologies be disseminated and value-added production be focused on. It is emphasized that long-term and predictable support policies should be implemented, holistic strategies should be developed to increase the share of animal production in the agricultural economy and bring it closer to EU standards.