Turkey: Livestock and Products Semi-annual

Post estimates cattle numbers in 2022 are expected to stagnate with 18 million head, including buffaloes, due to slow population growth rate, low raw milk prices, and an increasing number of cows being sent to slaughter because of high feed prices, despite government incentives. While feed prices have been steadily increasing, Turkish producers have been contending with low meat and milk supplier intermediary prices, which do not cover production costs. Post has revised Turkey’s livestock imports, which now are expected to increase 30 percent in 2022 totaling 340,000 head due to low cattle production in the country and a shortage of meat production. High food inflation on meat and dairy products continues. In 2022, beef consumption is forecast to stagnate because of the unchanging beef herd population and high market prices.