Cattle Import Quota Filled in Seven Months

September 29, 2026 · ankahaber.net

99% of the 500,000 head livestock import target set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for 2026 was realized in the first seven months of the year.

Import Quota Filled in Seven Months

The livestock import target of 500,000 head set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for 2026 was almost entirely consumed in the first seven months of the year. CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer stated in a press release that 495,527 cattle were imported in the first seven months.

CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer made the following assessment on the matter:

'The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry had planned for the import of 500,000 head of livestock for 2026. In the first seven months of the year alone, 495,527 head of livestock were imported. This means that more than 99% of the foreseen import volume for a year was realized within the first seven months. The continuation of imports at this pace clearly shows that livestock farming in Turkey cannot be made self-sufficient.'

Financial Portrait of Live Cattle Imports

Sharing the details of live cattle imports realized in the first seven months of 2026, Ömer Fethi Gürer reported that 82,454 of the imported animals were breeding stock, while 413,073 were non-breeding cattle. Gürer noted that a total of USD 177,265,000 was paid abroad for this seven-month live animal procurement, stating that the practice exceeded the limit of a temporary measure and caused a significant outflow of foreign currency.

New Quota for Next Year

Evaluating the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's plan for the import of 480,000 feeder male cattle for 2027, Gürer also touched upon the new regulation where the herd capacity in TÜRKVET records will be considered, and those without capacity information will not be able to apply.

CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer said the following about next year's plan:

'Now, 480,000 head of new imports are planned for 2027. The figure may have been reduced by 20,000 head, but there is no fundamental change in policy. Animals will still be brought from abroad, and foreign currency will still go abroad. However, what should really be done is to solve why producers in Turkey cannot raise animals.'

Rising Input and Costs for Producers

Stating that the fundamental problem in the livestock sector is not that producers give up raising animals, but that production loses its economic return, Ömer Fethi Gürer pointed out that essential inputs such as feed, medicine, veterinary services, and electricity have reached exorbitant levels. Gürer emphasized that in an environment where the producer's income cannot cover expenses, the livestock population cannot be increased, and that the attempt to continuously meet the resulting supply deficit through imports further complicates the situation for domestic breeders.

Rapid Increase in Red Meat Imports

Gürer also shared figures for red meat imports alongside live animal purchases, stating that cattle meat imports increased from 2,169 tons in 2022 to 36,538 tons in 2023, 81,164 tons in 2024, and 65,708 tons in 2025. In the first 7 months of 2026, cattle meat imports reached 54,218 tons, for which USD 535,398,000 was paid.

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