| الوصف: |
This study was carried out to determine the socio-economic characteristics of cattle enterprises in Aşkale county of Erzurum province. The data of the study consists of face-to-face surveys conducted with 221 enterprise owners. Frequency analysis was applied to the obtained data in the SPSS statistical program. It was determined that 25.8% of the farm owners participating in the survey were between 31-40 years old, 37.1% were 41-50 years old, and 24% were 51-60 years old. It found out that 35% of the enterprise owners were primary school graduates, 22.7% were secondary school graduates, and 26.4% were high school graduates. Family members were mostly involved in the care of animals in the enterprises (89.9%) and the breeders had 11-20 years or more cattle raising experience (81.4%). Of all the farmers 63.8% of them were engaged in both dairy and beef cattle breeding, and the most common cattle breed in the region was Brown Swiss (66.5%). In general, half of the enterprises (50.2%) had 11-30 head of cattle and 80.0% of the enterprises had 1-10 calves. Of all the participants 80% of them were not members of any association. It was determined that 53.1% of the breeders were not satisfied with cattle farming. Moreover, feed and medicine support (24%) and increase in intensives (16.7%) were among the primarily expectations of the farm owners from the government. Supporting plans and programs to ensure the socio-economic status and welfare of regional farmers through training and encouragement, in cooperation with the state, university and private sector would be beneficial for the livestock sector, especially cattle breeding in the Aşkale county. |