Impact of Farm-Scale on Animal Management Practices in Pırlak Sheep Enterprises

Authors : Zehra Bozkurt, Özlem Gücüyener Hacan, Serdar Koçak, Koray Çelikeloğlu, Mustafa Tekerli, Metin Erdoğan

Pages : 57-69

Doi:10.30607/kvj.1094177

View : 14 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2023-03-31

Article Type : Research

Abstract :This research was carried out to investigate the effects of farm scale on animal management practices in Pırlak sheep farms in the Emirdağ District of Afyonkarahisar province. A total of 56 Pırlak farms determined by simple random sampling were divided into three scale groups small (<50 heads), medium (51-100 heads), and large (>101 heads) based on sheep and ram numbers. The data were collected through measurements, observations, and face-to-face interviews with the farmers. The farm-scale significantly affected the feed production capacity, barn size, window area, lamp number, herd dog number, litter and manure removal frequencies, lamb production, penning the ewes with their lambs, and marketing of dairy products. The pasture-based extensive sheep production system was widespread in Pırlak farms, and the air quality, litter management, and frequency of equipment cleaning and manure removal were poorer than expected in those typical local sheep barns. Moreover, the farm\'s records related to production performance, animal diseases, and treatments were not kept. It has been understood that grazing, milking, lamb care, reproduction, and shearing processes were carried out with traditional methods, mostly without machinery. Since the Pırlak sheep breed is a hardy domestic breed adapted to this region for decades, improving efforts for the Pırlak sheep can increase the breed\'s performance. In conclusion, it has been concluded that the farm management capacities of Pırlak Farms in the Emirdağ can be supported with more financial government aid and farmers\' training in sheep breeding, animal health and welfare, and business economics.
Keywords : Emirdağ ilçesi, Hayvan yönetimi uygulamaları, İşletme büyüklüğü, Pırlak koyunculuk işletmeleri