Nomadic Animal Breeding

The average sheep numbers and the total yearly in come obtained in 1971 from this breeding of 9 provinces in eastern and southeastern of Anatolia have been roughly estimated as 3.765.000 and over 3 billions TL respectively. These figures conservatively represent 60 % of the sheep breeding potential of the regions in question.

Nevertheless the nomadic sheep breeding is primitive in nature still practiced in quidance of konwledge gained empricially through hundreds of years. The total yearly productions and consequently the yearly income obtained from this breeding could be increased gradually and significantly of the necessary improwing steps would be taken.

The main problems of nomadic sheep breeding took place in eastern and southeastern of Turkey could be summarised as follows: Increasing shortage of grazing areas as results of serious destruction of natural pastures due to extensive plowing for raising grains and over grazing of the remainders. Low productivity as results of primitive and insufficient breeding and management tecnics used. Very poor and unreliable marketing of livestock and other animal products. Ignorance of the nomads in regard of modern sheep breeding and management technics and practices. And finally the inexistence of organization as breeders cooperatives or associations among the nomads.

It is clearly seen that the nomads and cosequently the nomadic sheep breeding will fade awey if these and some other problems related to nomadic animal production would not solved in a reasonable lenghth of time. Keywords :