The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has initiated a public breeding project to protect and develop the genetic resources of Southern Anatolian Red (GAK) and Native Black breed cattle, which are our local cattle breeds adapted to the climate and environmental conditions of Anatolian lands, and to increase milk and meat yields.
The "Project for the Protection and Development of Animal Gene Resources" is being carried out by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) in order to eliminate the negativities arising from global warming and climate change, which have a direct impact on the productivity, lifestyle, endurance and diversity of animals. In this context, it is of great importance to develop and breed disease-resistant breeds that are adapted to the conditions likely to arise due to global warming and climate change in cattle breeding.
In this context, a local cattle breeding project was initiated for the first time by the public within the scope of the "Project for the Protection and Development of Animal Gene Resources".
The project in question aims to ensure the sustainability of local genetic resources and to benefit from the advantages of care and feeding.
The new breeding project will be carried out for GAK cattle breeds in Diyarbakır, Batman and Şanlıurfa, and for Native Black cattle breeds in Ankara. Within the scope of the project, a support payment of 4.000 TL will be made per mother cattle and 6 TL for the offspring whose live weights are taken at birth, 1 months and 3.250 year of age. The projects will cover a period of 5 years.
With the breeding project to be carried out in both local cattle breeds, Turkey's domestic genetic resources will be protected and added value will be provided to the country's animal husbandry by increasing productivity capabilities such as milk and meat.
THEIR CLIMATE ADAPTABILITY IS VERY HIGH
The Southern Anatolian Red (GAK), whose distribution area is the Southern Anatolia Region, is a breed adapted to the climate and environmental conditions of this region.
GAK, which has a variety of colors from yellow to red and brown, has a combined productivity in terms of both meat and milk and can utilize low quality feed well. GAK, a breed with a very high ability to adapt to climate, is resistant to temperature, stress and feed changes, all kinds of adverse natural conditions, hunger, malnutrition, diseases and parasites.
GAK, a breed with developed maternal instincts in terms of feeding and protecting its offspring, also has high herding ability.
The public breeding project will be carried out in Ankara. Native Karas are a race adapted to the climate and environmental conditions of the Central Anatolia Region. One of the most important characteristics of the Native Black cattle breed, which can be raised under relatively less developed care, feeding and housing conditions, is that it is very docile. This cattle breed, which feeds on little grass and hay, is known as a contented animal.
On the other hand, GAK cattle breed is currently protected by TAGEM in pure breeders' hands in Diyarbakır, Batman, Şanlıurfa and Hatay, and Native Kara cattle in Ankara, Çankırı and Antalya. Within the scope of the conservation program, which is important for the breeding project, a support payment of 1.600 TL is made per animal.
MINISTER YUMAKLI: “WE PAY SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO THE PROTECTION OF OUR NATIVE ANIMAL BREEDS”
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that thanks to the public breeding projects carried out by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, the country's genetic resources are protected and higher yields are obtained from breeds adapted to the Anatolian geography.
Emphasizing that they have received the fruits of their support for the further development and advancement of animal production, Yumaklı said, “We attach special importance to the protection of our local animal breeds in our animal production. In this context, it is among our priorities to continue long-term and uninterrupted breeding studies in animal breeding. The projects we initiated in many of our provinces continue to gain momentum. "We will continue to support our producers within the scope of public breeding projects," he said.