The socio-economic analysis of extensive turkey production in Turkey

There are two types of turkey breeding systems in Turkey. One is vertical integration with intensive raising, the other is conventional system with extensive way. In the conventional system mostly low income small family farms raise turkey for new year celebration and this agricultural activity is very important for these kind of farms in rural areas. The extensive turkey production system in Turkey are, mainly, made by small family farms to meet turkey consumption in the new year celebrations. In this study it was tried to determine socio-economic characteristics of these kind of farms. According to research results, average number of turkey in feeding is 843 heads, feeding period lasts about 8-9 months until the new year, 53.33% of farms slaughter turkeys their own places and sell the rest as live. Turkeys reach to 7.26 kg post feeding period. While variable costs constitute 86.26% of total production costs of turkey breeding, fixed costs constitute 13.74% of them. The highest share in total costs belong to feed costs (47.23%) Finished weight of turkey is 7.26 kg and total live weight per farm is 3630 kg. 1kg live turkey cost is 0.8939 $/kg, Net income is 2702 $ and this net income from this production branch cover 61,41 % of sufficient income for families in Turkey that is 4400 $.