Training Project Aimed at Raising Awareness of Sector Stakeholders for Achieving an Efficient and Sustainable Structure in the Livestock Sector

Project Title:

Educational Project for Raising Awareness Among Stakeholders in the Livestock Sector to Achieve a Productive and Sustainable Structure
 

Project Leader:

Prof. Dr. Hakan ÖNER

Project Summary:

This project aims to address key challenges affecting the quality, cost, and profitability of livestock production, with a focus on 13 specific targets. It seeks to improve the knowledge and skills of primary producers (large and small ruminant farmers) and sector employees through targeted educational initiatives. Another core component is enhancing the competencies of industrial enterprises in Burdur's livestock-based industry, particularly in areas such as management, marketing, finance, R&D, and production management. This will help these enterprises deliver high-value-added products to broader markets.

In addition, a dedicated training program will be developed for female farmers and local dairy producers, covering milk processing, yogurt and cheese production, and related technologies and hygiene standards. The aim is to improve production methods, establish hygienic practices, and develop small-scale production models.

The project is structured around three key training categories:

• Training for Producers (farmers, small enterprises): 8 main topics, 48 subtopics.
• Training for Industrialists/Enterprises (meat/milk factories): 4 main topics, 28 subtopics.
• Certified training for Technical Personnel (veterinarians, caretakers, etc.)

Training topics include reproductive efficiency, calf care and mortality, animal nutrition, udder health, animal welfare, hygiene, feed crop farming, small ruminant farming, marketing of dairy products, business economics, waste management, and energy efficiency.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE:

The livestock sector plays a crucial role not only in providing raw materials to the industry, creating employment, and increasing national income, but also in fulfilling important social functions such as ensuring healthy and adequate nutrition. Due to these responsibilities, it is essential to establish a sustainable and profitable production structure in the livestock sector, aligned with the region's production capabilities, to ensure regional and rural development. Given that livestock farming is one of the leading sectors in the economy of Burdur province, the importance of this sector is further amplified.

To achieve a sustainable and efficient structure for the livestock sector throughout Burdur, the first step is to address financial, cost, and marketing issues. Secondly, training programs must be implemented to tackle technical challenges faced by industry stakeholders, such as the chronic need for qualified personnel, animal diseases, fertility, animal nutrition, food hygiene, and consumer preferences, by disseminating this knowledge to all relevant individuals and organizations.

In this context, training programs have been developed for breeders (farmers, small businesses), industries/businesses (meat/dairy factories), and technical personnel (veterinarians, caregivers, etc.), covering the following training topics.

Training Programs for Industries/Businesses (Meat/Dairy Factories)

Training programs have been designed for the development of management personnel and staff, particularly focusing on the owners of livestock-based industrial establishments, including the following topics:

Accounting and Financial Management

• Effective Cost Management
• Creating Accounting Information Systems
• Establishing Internal Control Mechanisms
• Critical Issues in Tax Accounting
• Financial Analysis
• Effective Use of Working Capital Components
• Accessing Financial Resources
• Financial Planning
• Management of Capital Investments
• Basic Financial Mathematics

Management and Organization

• Job Analysis and Effective Task Design within the Context of Total Quality Management
• Performance Monitoring and Management
• Strategic Management and Planning
• Enhancing Employee Motivation
  
  Marketing
• Modern Marketing Concepts
• Strategic Marketing Management and Competitive Strategies
• Digital Marketing and Social Marketing
• Customer Relationship Management
• Sales Management
• Brand Management
• R&D and Innovation in the Dairy Products Sector
• Interpretation of Basic Macroeconomic Data
• Preparing Tables and Charts in Excel (for Data Presenters/Employees)

Production Management and Efficiency

• Production Systems
• Site Selection for Facilities
• Facility Layout Planning
• Production Planning and Control

Commercial Law

• Critical Issues in Commercial Law

• Training Programs for Breeders (Farmers, Small Businesses)
The training programs outlined below have been designed to support the resolution of issues related to the quality, cost, and profitability of production carried out by cattle and sheep breeders. These programs aim to enhance the knowledge of personnel employed in the sector and ensure they stay updated on new developments:

Foot Care and Housing

• Prevention of Foot Diseases and Hoof Care
• What Do Cows Want?

Nutrition

• The Importance of Roughage in Dairy Cattle Feeding
• Silage Feeds
• Total Mixed Ration Feeding
• The Importance of Preparing Rations
• Calf Feeding
• Key Points in Dairy Cattle Feeding
• Beef Cattle Feeding
• Factors Affecting Milk Fat
• Low Fertility Related to Nutrition in Dairy Cattle
• Nutrition-Related Diseases in Dairy Cattle
• Ruminal Acidosis

Calf Care

• First Aid After Calving in Calves
• Vaccination of Mothers to Prevent Calf Diseases
• Calf Diarrhea
• Important Diseases Observed After Weaning in Calves and Prevention Methods

Fertility

• Detecting Heat and Identifying the Right Time for Insemination
• Examinations After Insemination and Their Importance
• Normal Birth, Difficult Birth, and Assistance During Birth
• Importance of Calving Pens
• Preparing Cows for Birth and Post-Birth Problems
• Issues with Fertility Retention and Solutions
• Approaches for Cows Not Showing Heat
• Record Keeping and Its Importance

Appropriate Sperm Selection

• Calf Losses and Abortion Issues in Cows

Livestock Business Economics

• Financial Ratio Analysis and Required Measures
• Calculating the Unit Cost of Milk Produced in Dairy Farms

Small Ruminant Husbandry

• Key Issues to Consider in Sheep and Goat Farming
• Important Diseases in Sheep and Goats and Prevention Methods
• Reproduction in Small Ruminants
• Breeding and Artificial Insemination
• Goat Feeding
• Sheep Feeding
• Foot Diseases and Minor Surgical Procedures in Small Ruminants
• Udder Health in Sheep and Goats

Udder Health and Milking

• What is Mastitis? What Happens When Mastitis Occurs?
• How Does Mastitis Develop?
• How is Mastitis Diagnosed?
• How is Mastitis Treated?
• Prevention Methods for Mastitis
• How Effective are Vaccinations Against Mastitis?
• Management of Lactation and Dry Period
• Milking and Milking Machines
• Other Udder Diseases
• Udder Health in Terms of Milk Yield and Quality

Animal Health

• Viral Diseases and Control
• Bacterial Diseases and Control
• Parasitic Diseases and Control

• Training Programs for Technical Personnel (Veterinarians, Caregivers, etc.)

Practical training programs will be designed to increase the basic professional knowledge level of veterinarians, caregivers, and technical staff, allowing them to gain experience in new techniques and applications. These training sessions will consist of 8 main topics and will be conducted for 4 hours per month, totaling 48 hours per year, at the Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Agricultural Livestock and Food Research Application and Research Center.
 

REGIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT:

This project primarily aims to enhance the competencies of businesses operating in the livestock-based industrial sector in Burdur, focusing on management, marketing, finance, R&D, and production management. The goal is to transform these businesses into sectors that deliver high-value-added products to broader markets.

In this context, the regional contributions that can be achieved through the project are listed below:

• Create a structure where an increased market potential allows for a greater proportion of raw milk and meat produced in Burdur to be processed locally and marketed globally.
• Enhance the employment, added value, and export capacity of the province and the country as a result of increased market potential.
• Ensure sustainability in agricultural production.
• Involve women in production and contribute to female entrepreneurship.
• Increase the sustainability of food security from farm to table by delivering healthy local products to consumers, particularly the people of Burdur.
• Increase the added value of products.
• Revitalize traditional production to preserve local flavors, ensuring hygienic conditions for selling products in local markets.
• Develop and protect traditional techniques for producing yogurt and cheese while improving food safety regulations.
• Facilitate the revival of lost traditional yogurt and cheese varieties specific to the region.
• Implement a small production model that aligns with the "farm-to-fork" approach, encompassing all stages of the food chain from production to consumption.
• Anticipate an increase in the small ruminant livestock potential in the Teke region of Burdur.
   

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT:

The realization of the project will contribute to the national economy, societal welfare, and scientific knowledge as outlined below:

• Development of marketing and branding skills to increase market share at both national and international levels.
• Increasing the employment, added value, and export capacity of both the province and the country as a result of enhanced market potential.
• Increasing the number of trained and adequately equipped intermediate staff needed by the sector.
• Addressing the challenges of ration preparation related to feed, which constitutes 60-70% of the costs in livestock farming, and creating a foundation for alternative feed sources.
• Establishing a livestock business economics perspective in enterprises to control and minimize costs for sustainable production.
• Raising awareness among breeders about important diseases affecting livestock and the necessary preventive and therapeutic measures.
• Resolving issues related to fertility, udder health, and milking practices.
• Reducing calf mortality rates by addressing challenges in calf care, which is a significant source of profit for enterprises.

With these contributions, both producers and small businesses will benefit more consciously in terms of costs and efficient production. This will also enhance interest in livestock farming, contributing to employment and increasing the number of skilled intermediate staff required by the sector.