Cattle Farming

Cattle breeding has been one of the fundamental pillars of agriculture and animal husbandry throughout human history. This process, which began approximately 10,500 years ago with the domestication of wild cattle, has led to the emergence of numerous cattle breeds under the influence of different climatic conditions and cultural structures up to the present day. According to research, domesticated cattle primarily descended from two main species: Bos taurus (taurine) and Bos indicus (indicine). Some native cattle breeds in Türkiye trace their origins to the wild European cattle known as Bos taurus primigenius (aurochs).

Cattle breeding holds major global importance in both milk and meat production. Approximately 90 percent of the world’s milk production and 25 percent of meat production are provided by cattle. In Türkiye, according to 2023 TÜİK data, 70.1% of red meat production was^【1】 and 92.9 percent of milk production is obtained from cattle breeding.^【2】

^{Terms Used in Breeding:}

• Cattle: All animals of the species Bos taurus belonging to the subfamily Bovinae, regardless of age.
• Dairy cow: In cattle breeding, an adult female cattle that has given birth to a calf is called a dairy cow.
• Heifer: Young cattle of either sex between six and twelve months of age are called heifers.
• Heifer: A young female cattle under three years of age that has not yet calved is called a heifer.
• Steer: A male cattle between one and two years of age that is not used for breeding and has not been castrated is called a steer.
• Bull: A male cattle used for breeding and mating purposes is called a bull.
• Ox: A male cattle over twelve months of age that is not used for breeding, has been castrated, and is used as a draft animal is called an ox.
• Lactation: The average period of milk production in female cattle, beginning after calving and ending when milking stops, lasting approximately 305 days.
• Colostrum: A thick, creamy fluid produced in the mammary glands of the cow during the final days of the dry period, differing from regular milk by its high concentration of immune substances; its color ranges from dark yellow to brown.
• Milking: The process of extracting milk from the udder using appropriate methods.
• Condition: The degree of fatness of a cattle, which varies according to feeding and management practices.
• Constitution: The ability of a cattle to withstand environmental conditions as a result of harmonious functioning of its organs and organ systems.
• Dry period: The period during which milking is suspended for a pregnant cow to prepare for lactation and to ensure the fetus develops without adverse effects, during which special care and feeding are provided.
• Puberty: The stage of sexual maturity when secondary sexual characteristics begin to develop and the sex glands and organs start functioning.

Cattle Breeds

Cattle breeds can be classified as native and exotic breeds. Among native breeds:

1. Native Black

The Native Black breed is the most widely raised native cattle breed in Türkiye. Its distinguishing features include its small size and entirely black coloration, including the hooves.

Despite being raised for many years under inadequate care and feeding conditions, these cattle exhibit high resilience.

• Withers height: 100–110 cm
• Live weight: 200–300 kg
• Age at first estrus: 56 months
• Lactation length: 200 days
• Milk yield: Average 750 kg
• Daily live weight gain: 600–700 g

2. Boz Breed

The Boz breed is a typical steppe cattle and is among the shared native breeds of the Balkan countries and Türkiye. Today, small herds are raised in the southern Marmara region and the mountainous areas of Thrace. Due to its sturdy body structure, it was historically used as an ox for field work.

• Withers height: 120 cm
• Live weight: 250–400 kg
• Age at first estrus: 30–36 months
• Lactation length: 220 days
• Milk yield: 1000–1500 kg
• Milk fat content: 4.1%
• Daily live weight gain: 700–800 g

With the advancement of agricultural technologies, the use of this breed for field work has been discontinued; however, this transition has led to a rapid decline in its population, and the Boz breed is now at risk of extinction.

3. South Anatolian Red

This group includes two sub-breeds: Kilis Cattle and Native South Yellow.

a) Kilis Cattle

Kilis Cattle is one of Türkiye’s largest and highest milk-yielding native breeds. Its color ranges from yellow to brown. It is resistant to parasitic diseases common in hot climates.

• Withers height: 130–135 cm
• Live weight: 200–300 kg
• Age at first insemination: 20 months
• Lactation length: 275 days
• Milk yield: 1500–3200 kg (some individuals can reach up to 5000 kg)
• Daily live weight gain: 700–1000 g

Positive results have been achieved in crossbreeding programs with exotic breeds such as Simmental and Black-and-White. Kilis Cattle has particularly high potential for the GAP Region.

b) Native South Yellow

The Native South Yellow varies in color from dirty yellow to cinnamon tones. It resembles the Native Black breed in body structure and productivity traits. It is still raised in South Anatolia due to its adaptation to hot climatic conditions.

4. East Anatolian Red (EAR)

The East Anatolian Red is a native breed widely raised in the eastern and northeastern regions of Türkiye. These red-colored cattle have adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the region.

• Withers height: 115–125 cm
• Live weight: 250–350 kg
• Lactation length: 179–270 days
• Milk yield: 1000–1200 kg
• Milk fat content: 4.4%
• Daily live weight gain: 800–900 g

Native Breeds and Their Role in Breeding

The cattle breeds described above represent Türkiye’s native genetic resources. These breeds are generally suited to extensive (traditional) livestock systems and are not commonly used in intensive (closed-system) fattening operations.

In modern livestock activities, higher-yielding animals are preferred, and thus exotic breeds have come to the forefront. Cattle breeding in Türkiye is divided into three main categories according to purpose:

• Dairy breeds (e.g., Black-and-White)
• Beef breeds (e.g., Charolais, Limousin)
• Dual-purpose breeds (e.g., Simmental)

Native breeds possess advantages such as low input requirements, disease resistance, and adaptation to local environmental conditions; however, their productivity is lower than that of exotic breeds. Nevertheless, the sustainability of these breeds is of great importance for the preservation of genetic diversity, adaptation to climate change, and rural development.