Even Humpbacked Cattle Couldn’t Bring Prices Down

Due to a shortage of cattle in the east and south-east, which covered a considerable proportion of Turkey’s meat needs for a period, the Meat and Dairy Authority imported humpback cattle from the African continent and Angus cattle from Uruguay. This institution’s initiative, which delivers one more carcass to butchers a week, did not cover the need and did not have a downward effect on prices.

THE IMPORT WEIGHT IS 220 TL

The Meat and Dairy Institution, which shipped humpback cattle from the African continent to slaughterhouses in the southeast last month before Eid al-Adha approached, tried to avoid both red meat shortages and rising prices, but he didn’t make it. African cattle slaughtered in Diyarbakır slaughterhouses were distributed to butchers registered with the city’s Chamber of Butchers, on the condition that they do not exceed one carcass per week. However, this method did not work either. Although the cattle were not enough to meet the needs, there was no reduction in prices either. Butchers bought African cattle with bones from the Meat and Dairy Institute at 155 lire per kilogram and offered them for sale at 220 lire. Currently, the price of local meat with bones is 220 lira. Breeder and producer Burhan Avşar said: “The mindless and uncontrolled killing of females has created a shortage of animals. As soon as possible, the producer must be supported and encouraged in the right way and the killing of dairy animals must be stopped urgently,” he said.

60 percent decrease in slaughter demand

– Breeder and producer Burhan Avşar stated that there was a 60 percent decrease in the demand for slaughter animals this year compared to last year. Avşar said: “Importing animals from abroad did not solve the problem either. The feast has arrived, but the markets are still very stagnant. We are experiencing a 60 percent decline. Instead of supporting the national producer, they try to find artificial solutions by importing animals from abroad. “This is never the solution,” he said.

Donations are made abroad

Due to fluctuating meat prices, qurban’s donations were mostly abroad this year. While 5,000 lire is paid for sacrificial donations accepted by associations and foundations, the fee is reduced to 2,000 lire when the donation is made abroad. As such, qurban’s donations were made primarily to underprivileged countries, especially the African continent.