A Sample For Applicability of Animal Breeding to Industry during Republic Period: Merino Breeding

Abstract

From the outset of Republic, studies were carried out to develop Turkey, which was a country of agriculture. For this reason, agriculture and animal breeding were given a special importance. Animal breeding activities were carried out commonly with conventional methods and for the purpose of earning the living of a family. By means of increasing the product efficiency and quality, state started to apply various methods in order to spread the welfare from person to region and from the region to country especially beginning from 1930's. Merino breeding played a pioneering role in the development of animal breeding in Turkey.

The merino brought from Germany and Hungary were reproduced and improved by hybridization in the farms in Bursa, Balıkesir and Çanakkale. In this way, a "Turkish type merino" sheep with a high wool and meat productivity was obtained. These sheep were sent to different regions of Anatolia where the climate was suitable. An important increase in their number was achieved in time. This has made a significant contribution to the development of animal breeding and provided an additional resource for the country economy. In this study especially in Turkey merino breeding activities, its contributions to country's animal breeding, economy and industry were addressed.