Small Ruminant Livestock Population in Turkey Exceeds 60 Million

September 25, 2026 · haberler.com

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Turkey's sheep population increased by 6%, bringing the total number of small ruminant livestock to over 60.8 million as of June 2026.

According to the 'Livestock Population Statistics, June 2026' bulletin published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the number of sheep across Turkey has recorded a significant increase. Official data reveals that the sheep population, which was 46,688,813 in December 2025, grew by 6% to reach 49,473,446 heads as of June 2026. Similarly, goat numbers also showed an upward trend. The goat population, standing at 11,185,505 in December 2025, increased by 1.4% to 11,341,731 heads.

The bulletin released by the Ministry also detailed current figures for cattle livestock. The total number of cattle in Turkey rose from 17,708,985 in December 2025 to 17,804,510 heads. Cattle numbers within this group recorded a limited increase of 0.5%, identified as 17,640,002. In contrast, the buffalo population experienced a decline, with numbers falling by 0.2% to 164,508 heads.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry indicates that the small ruminant livestock population continues its growth trend across the broader livestock sector. The total small ruminant livestock population increased by 5.1% from 57,874,318 in December 2025 to 60,815,177 heads in June 2026. While the overall increase in the cattle segment remained at a notable 0.5%, it has been officially confirmed that both sheep and goat numbers in the small ruminant sector are steadily moving upwards.

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