The Relationship Between Forage Crop Production, Agricultural Supports and Livestock in Şanlıurfa

Abstract

Continuity in forage crop production is of great importance for the sustainability of animal husbandry activities. Forage crops such as alfalfa, vetch, corn silage and sainfoin in particular play a fundamental role in animal nutrition. Şanlıurfa is one of the important agricultural and animal husbandry centers of Turkey with its geographical structure suitable for animal husbandry. Agricultural supports related to forage crops aim to provide quality and sustainable feed production at lower costs by encouraging production, thus increasing the efficiency of animal products, reducing costs and ensuring sustainability in the sector. Forage crops increase sustainability in field agriculture by entering into rotation. In this study, the development in forage crop production and animal wealth in Şanlıurfa on a provincial basis in Turkey and Turkey was examined and evaluated together with support policies. There were significant increases in animal wealth in Turkey during the examined 2004-2020 period. The univariate regression value of the change is 85,05%. Animal population has been on an increasing trend, especially since 2010. However, it was determined that the trend line, where the number of animals per decare of forage crop planting area was 0,4, showed a decreasing trend and the univariate regression value of the change was 12,53%. In the period 2004-2020, it was determined that the animal population in Şanlıurfa province increased by 72,23%, the trend line generally showed a wavy increasing trend, and the univariate regression value of the change was 56,58%. While the area planted with forage crops in Şanlıurfa increased, the highest increase in animal population was in the presence of large cattle. The animal population in Şanlıurfa province has expanded towards cattle breeding based on feeding and fattening, and pasture-based sheep farming has not been able to show a similar growth.