Turkish hair goat, the main pillar of goat population in Turkey

Abstract

Turkish Hair goat is a breed dating back to history of Anatolia and integrated with these territories. Turkish Hair goat is regarded not only as a farm animal in Anatolia but also as a piece of the system from which numerous cultural values are originated. In Turkey, Turkish Hair goat is the most raised goat breed, supposing 98.2% of more than 10 million goats. Turkish Hair goats are raised in every part of Anatolian geography and are also identified with extensive breeding. It can maintain its life under mountain, plateau, and plain conditions and in pastures, meadow, forest, brush, and maquis areas. Its enormous ability of adaptation has allowed this goat to live in such wide areas. Both its survival and productivity in an environment where no other farm animals can inhabit indicate its endurance under the harshest conditions. Hair goats displaying multipurpose yield characteristics have been bred by nomadic, seminomadic, and settled breeders. Its milk production is rarely utilized. Milk is generally consumed by kids of these goats. Earnings obtained from selling meat animals (kids and adults) are the main income of breeders. There is no additional feed provided for breeding and animals are completely fed by grazing and browsing in the region of Anatolia. An added value is that Hair goat is able to yield natural products in harsh conditions, which has been reported by many authors.