TÜDKİYEB President Çelik: "We Have Abundant Lamb Stocks, Claims of Lamb Imports Are Baseless"

Forex - The President of the Turkish Sheep and Goat Breeders' Association (TÜDKİYEB), Nihat Çelik, met with the Regional Union Presidents of the Aegean Region in Afyonkarahisar. Also participating in the meeting was Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tekerli, Head of the Animal Science Department at Afyon Kocatepe University and leader of the Small Ruminant Breeding Project.

Welcomed with flowers in Afyonkarahisar, Çelik stated that the issues faced in small ruminant livestock in the Aegean Region and proposed solutions were discussed during the two-day consultation meeting with the Union Presidents. He emphasized that sheep imports are not on the agenda and that the red meat deficit could be closed through small ruminant livestock, hence the need to increase production.

• "We have more than enough lamb stock; claims of lamb imports are baseless..."

TÜDKİYEB President Çelik pointed out that there is ample stock of small ruminants and that the claims regarding lamb imports are unfounded. He stated, "Our President and our Minister of Agriculture and Forestry are strongly opposed to imports. However, due to the lambing and birthing seasons, temporary and limited imports of large ruminants are made under measures to control rising prices and prevent opportunists from hiking meat prices. There is no problem with the stock and supply of small ruminants, so imports are not in question. Furthermore, we are requesting the opening of small ruminant exports from our Ministry. These import rumors serve the import lobby. However, we still need to increase both the number and productivity of our small ruminants significantly. We believe that the red meat deficit in our country can only be resolved through small ruminant livestock. Therefore, we emphasize production, production, production. Our country is a true geography of small ruminant livestock, and thus this advantage should be turned into an opportunity to prioritize and support small ruminants even more."

• "Small ruminant population in the Aegean Region must be doubled..."

In his statement regarding small ruminant livestock in the Aegean Region, TÜDKİYEB President Çelik mentioned that the region's total share of small ruminant livestock is approximately 10% and that this ratio must be increased. He stated, "As of June 2024, our total small ruminant population is 53 million 965 thousand, consisting of 43 million 394 thousand sheep and 10 million 571 thousand goats. In the Aegean Region, the numbers are 4 million sheep and 1 million goats, totaling 5 million heads. Thus, the Aegean Region, which includes 8 provinces, has a share of 9.46% or approximately 10%. This ratio is 9.34% for sheep and 9.95% for goats. In the upcoming period, these numbers and ratios need to be increased. The main objective should be to double the number of animals at least from the current level, that is, to reach a 20% level relative to the national total. One of our fundamental duties will be to increase both the number of breeders and the total number of small ruminants to achieve a per capita small ruminant target. We believe that once we achieve this, animal imports will become a thing of the past."

• "Kıvırcık lamb has the highest meat quality and taste..."

Çelik noted that the Kıvırcık breed, which is dominant in the Aegean and Marmara Regions, ranks first in terms of meat quality and taste among all sheep breeds in the country. He remarked, "The Kıvırcık sheep breed ranks first in terms of meat quality and taste among all sheep breeds in our country, which is very valuable for our Aegean and Marmara Regions. In this sense, breeding projects for small ruminants being conducted in collaboration with our Ministry, unions, and universities continue to enhance meat yield, just like with other sheep breeds. Additionally, due to the recent increased demand for sheep and goat milk, intensive and semi-intensive dairy sheep and goat farming should be developed in this region."

• "Problems of migratory livestock farming in the region must be addressed..."

President Çelik pointed out that the problems of migratory livestock farming in the region need to be resolved, stating, "The transportation and pasture accommodation issues of shepherds should be addressed, and migratory livestock farming, which is losing ground in the region, must be revitalized. It should not be forgotten that if regional shepherds abandon small ruminant livestock, the forest margins and areas will become deserted and unmanaged, which could lead to an increase in dry grass areas, potentially causing fires and ultimately burning thousands of hectares of forest land."

TÜDKİYEB President Nihat Çelik expressed gratitude to the Union Presidents who participated in the Aegean Region Union Presidents' consultation meeting and to Afyonkarahisar Union President Mehmet Pala for hosting the meeting, stating that in the future, they would work together with an even stronger spirit of unity and cooperation for better services.