Parliament Reacts to 2027 Feeder Cattle Import Plan
· Tarım Pusulası
Ayhan Barut criticized the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's plan to import 480,000 feeder male cattle for 2027, stating that the solution lies with domestic producers, not imports.
Ayhan Barut, a member of the Parliamentary Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Commission, reacted strongly to the plan by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's General Directorate of Livestock to import 480,000 feeder male cattle for 2027. Barut emphasized that the fundamental problems in animal production cannot be solved through import measures and argued that the government should shift towards production-oriented policies. Stating that the structural crisis in the sector is deepening, Ayhan Barut, a member of the Parliamentary Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Commission, criticized officials and made the following statements:
Barut demanded that the planned import be abandoned immediately and called for the protection of domestic producers.
Barut announced that Turkey has imported over 11.5 million live animals and more than 500,000 tons of red meat since 2010, stating that a total of $15 billion in funds has been transferred abroad during this period. Ayhan Barut, a member of the Parliamentary Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Commission, addressed the officials, saying that rising feed, fodder, operational, and veterinary expenses, along with foot-and-mouth disease, have left producers helpless:
Barut pointed out that breeding cows are being sent for slaughter due to cost pressures, noting that both the breeder and the consumer, who faces high meat prices, are suffering.
Reminding that the country imports an average of over $4 billion worth of feed raw materials and additives annually, Barut emphasized that even fodder, cheese, and butter were imported in the past. Stating that true sustainability in animal production can only be achieved by supporting domestic breeders, Barut expressed that dependence on foreign sources is consuming the sector. Arguing that domestic production capacity must be strengthened to overcome the crisis, Barut reiterated his call for abandoning import-based practices and providing direct and comprehensive incentives to producers.
| Value | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 480,000 heads | 2027 | Planned beef cattle import |
| 11.5 million heads | Since 2010 | Imported live animal quantity |
| 500,000 tonnes | Since 2010 | Imported red meat quantity |
| 15 billion dollars | Since 2010 | Total amount of live animal and meat imports |
| 4 billion dollars | Annual average | Average annual feed raw material and additive imports |