Black Sea Journal of Agriculture

Yazarlar: Yücel ŞAHİN, Mustafa OLFAZ

Konular:Mühendislik, Ziraat

Anahtar Kelimeler:Karayaka,Tokat,Lamb Growth,Plateau

Özet: The aim of this study was to investigate the breeding and lamb growing practices used by sheep breeders in Tokat region including Tokat city, Turhal, Niksar, Erbaa and Başçiftlik districts. The study was conducted in 2018 by evaluating the data collected from 94 sheep farms in the region through questionnaire. According to the result of the study, the educational status of 44.8% of the sheep farm owners were primary graduates and the average experience of sheep farming was 18.6 years. In order to cover the needs of shepherd, 40.0% of the sheep breeders use to add their animal to the neighbour herds. Additionally, it was determined that 83 (88.3%) of the farmers keep Karayaka breed and the average number of sheep per farm was 111 head. Moreover, 44.6% of the breeders responded that they farm sheep for family needs. In the total region, it was found that approximately 74.5% of sheep farmers send their animals in the highland and about 170-180 days stay at the Plateau, where the maximum number of lamb deaths occurs in twin births with a rate of 14.1%, it was determined that 52.1% of the lambs go to the pasture with their mothers at the birth, and 60.6% were using lamb feeds in addition to suckling mother. Thus, the study revealed that 89.4% of the lambs were never dry from their mothers. Finally, sheep farmers reported that lack of shepherd, lamb death, diseases, cost of the feed and inadequate quality pasture were the main problems facing sheep breeding. Therefore, in order to sheep farm to be profitable, it was recommended that the market price and grant support should be increased, young people should be encouraged to livestock farming, pasture production and genetic of the herd should be improved.

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