1. A Swot Analysis on How t o Create Competitive Cattle Farms: Case of Erzurum Province in Turkey Fahri YAVUZ, Adem AKSOY Dept. of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Ataturk University

2. The Problem Cattle growing is major economic activity Leading province in terms of number of cattle This activity was profitable 3 decades ago But it lost its competitiveness since 1980’s

3. Objective of the Study to determine –strengths –weaknesses –opportunities and –threats of the of cattle growing activity in Erzurum to determine how to create competitive cattle farms –by focusing on strengths –by eliminating weaknesses –by utilizing opportunities and –by reversing threats into opportunities On the basis of quality and low cost production

4. What are the strengths? Number of cattle Large grasslands and pasture lands Higher ratio of forage areas compare to Turkey’s average Quality, productive and profitable forage cropping Existence of cattle growing culture

5. What are the weaknesses ? Low productive local breeds Climate conditions Insufficient feeding and living environment for cattle Incorrect animal growing practices Lack of knowledge Small number of veterinarians

6. What are the opportunities Comparative advantage because of low opportunity cost High government promotion on cattle growing A room to increase the knowledge of the farmers EU grants in near future Enforcements in the process of accessing to EU Ability to switch to organic cattle growing

7. What are the threats Traditional way of cattle growing Low educated and elderly animal growers Competition from western regions Competition in case of being a member of EU Quality requirements of EU standards Probability of ending government support policies on cattle growing

8. The Target Quality and low cost –Milk and –Meat production Through –Productive cattle –Better animal growing practices

9. Major strategies Artificial insemination –To have quality herd Training activities –To have correct animal growing practices

10. Strategies on Artificial Insemination Educate the farmers on –importance of artificial insemination –How to be effective in artificial insemination Financial support on –Providing the service –Providing quality sperms Improving capacity by –Increasing the numbers of veterinarians –Increasing the interest of farmers

11. Strategies on Farmer Training Continuous Correct timing Proper material Various and proper methods Feedback from animal growers Dynamic structure Technical support Long lasting education

12. Future Prospects Utilizing government supports to –increase forage production –increase silage production –expand artificial insemination Efficient use of EU grants to –improve conditions of barns –establish cold chain to market raw milk –increase the size of farms –Adapt new technologies to the practices Take the advantage of accessing process to EU –to have better health and welfare conditions –to have quality and hygiene producing methods

13. Thanks