Red Meat Producers Support Pregnant Heifer Initiative

September 30, 2026 · GıdaTarım

TÜKETBİR Chairman Bülent Tunç stated that the red meat supply deficit will be closed through domestic production within 1-2 years with the beef-type pregnant heifer project and effective use of pastures.

Bülent Tunç, Chairman of the Turkish Red Meat Producers Central Union (TÜKETBİR), announced that the beef-type pregnant heifer policy must continue with determination in the red meat sector. Stating that the ongoing projects have given significant momentum to the sector, TÜKETBİR Chairman Bülent Tunç made the following statements in his assessment:

According to TÜKETBİR data, approximately 180,000 pregnant heifers were brought to Turkey this year within the scope of the 'Prosperity in Rural Areas Livestock Support Project'. Emphasizing that the strategy implemented by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, is extremely accurate, Tunç stated that positive results will be obtained within 1-2 years with the widespread adoption of beef-type breeds.

TÜKETBİR Chairman Bülent Tunç stated that highlands and pastures play a key role in reducing livestock farming costs, and reported that past security issues directly affected production. Drawing attention to the relationship between security and pastures, TÜKETBİR Chairman Bülent Tunç noted the following:

Reminding that the confinement of animals to feedlots and their feeding with imported feed increased input costs, Tunç stated that with the end of terrorism, the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions will break new ground in red meat production thanks to the pastures.

Tunç expressed satisfaction with the gradual reduction of the beef import quota over the years, stating that producers will close the red meat deficit by raising calves from pregnant heifers grazed on pastures without cost. Tunç added that countries like Germany and the USA also import meat due to global integration, and that import dependence will be minimized with the strengthening of domestic production.

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