Livestocks

Livestock farming in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) over time has contributed to food security, provides employment, and enhances livelihoods. About 60% of the population lived in rural areas and that depend on agriculture to some extent. The land area of the TRNC extends to 330,383,968 hectares (2,465,552 dunum). Agricultural land covers 187,348.48 hectares (1,398,123 dunum). While grazing land occupies 16,369.04 hectares (122,157 dunum) which represents 4.95% of the land area.

Livestock holdings are almost universally privately owned on the island with medium enterprises and small-scale farmers managing animals in association with crop production. Livestock farming is a major contributor to agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The market was valued at about 45.7% of total agricultural output in 2017.

Livestock products (cattle, sheep, poultry, and goats) especially processed dairy items are important constituents of exported goods. Lebanon and Jordan, Turkey, UAE, and the other Gulf States are important markets for Northen Cyprus exports. Northern Cyprus exports livestock products (especially cheese and poultry meat) to Turkey, the Middle East, and UAE. Turkey is by far the single largest recipient of TRNC livestock product exports, taking 54.1 percent of total exports. 

Poultry is the major meat source, with almost twice the output from cattle, sheep, and goats combined. Poultry farming is kept by most rural households to provide some household food and occasionally generate small cash. Domestic fowl predominate in the species mix but turkeys, pigeons, geese, ducks, and guinea fowl are found in many households in rural areas. The poultry population comprises several species but the approximately 4.2 million birds are overwhelmingly domestic fowl (“chicken”).

The TRNC is a secular state but the population is mostly Muslim which means there is a limited production of pigs and consumption of pork. Sheep and goat farming is popular and often kept together as a mixed flock in the west and centre of the island: some larger flocks that supply milk to cheese factories are house-based, while others are intensively managed using modern technology.

In the northeastern Karpaz peninsula, for instance, you find the sheep and goats usually grazing in natural areas and herded out by hired shepherds and dogs. The Cyprus Fat-tailed sheep is a triple-purpose type producing milk, coarse wool and meat and is usually white with brown markings about the head. Goats especially Damascus goats are used for meat and milk as well as Awassi and Chios sheep.

Milk is a sought-after food product for the human diet. The greater need for dairy cattle and goats that produce milk is very crucial. Herds are mainly managed on a zero-grazing principle with total confinement that serves for keeping and milking. Hand milking has been superseded by a mechanized bucket system whose power by electricity.

In the TRNC both milk and meat are processed for various kinds of added value products to be sold wholesale or retail on the local and export markets. In 2017 the value of exports had increased to US$ 125,706,735 of which US$ 27,915,239 or 23.3 percent was from dairy products and US$ 5,294,539 or 4.5 percent was from poultry meat.

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