Winter Hardships and Livestock Husbandry in Rural Areas of the City
The rural areas of our city were covered in a white blanket after the first snowfall of the season. This situation means both beauty and difficulty for the citizens living in the region. The winter season brings certain difficulties for the villagers in terms of animal care and daily life. Especially in the villages at high altitudes, families who make a living from animal husbandry make great efforts to cope with the difficulties brought by winter.
Importance of Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry has an undeniably important place in the village economy. For this reason, farmers who do animal husbandry follow a strict program in order not to neglect the care of their animals during the winter months. Especially Mount Ararat In high altitude regions affected by climate change, animals that farmers graze in pastures during the summer months require care in barns during the winter.
Winter Work and Difficulties
Winter work has begun for everyone involved in animal husbandry in the villages. Eyup Beykec, earns his living by doing animal husbandry in the Belela hamlet of Kavaktepe village, which has an altitude of 2 meters. Regarding animal husbandry, Beykeç, “We graze our animals in pastures in the summer and care for them in barns in the winter. Our only source of income is animal husbandry.” With his words, he emphasizes how important this work is.
Preparation in Summer, Maintenance in Winter
Preparations made during the summer months are critical to alleviating the difficulties of winter. Beykeç states that they stockpile the grass they mow in the summer and thus do not experience any problems throughout the winter. “The only thing that is difficult for us is the closure of our roads. May God not harm our state, it is also constantly being opened.” By saying this, he also reveals the effect of snowfall in winter closing the roads.
High Altitude Livestock Farming
Raising livestock in high altitude areas presents many challenges. Feeding, sheltering and general care of animals requires extra attention during the winter months. Weather conditions are harsh in such areas and snowfall can make it difficult to transport animals. However, local people have developed various strategies to overcome these challenges.
Adapting to Natural Conditions
Those who are engaged in animal husbandry must adapt to natural conditions. Necessary precautions must be taken to ensure that animals remain healthy in winter. In this context, regular cleaning of barns, keeping animals warm and providing sufficient feed are of great importance. In this process, local people try to achieve the best results by combining traditional methods with modern practices.
Agricultural Support and the Role of the State
The state is developing various projects to support animal husbandry in rural areas. These projects aim to help farmers with the materials and training they need. In addition, regular road opening works to reduce the difficulties experienced in the winter months increase the quality of life of the villagers.
Conclusion
As a result, winter in the rural areas of the city presents both challenges and opportunities for livestock farmers. With the arrival of winter, the effort put into caring for and feeding animals directly affects the living standards of the local people. Despite the harsh winter conditions, families engaged in livestock farming continue to raise their animals healthily with traditional methods and modern techniques.
