Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of current situation in sheep breeding sub-sector of animal husbandry in the NUTS Level 1 region in Turkey. The total number of sheep and slaughtered sheep and the quantity of mutton production in Turkey have decreased by 42.31, 62.12 and 55.27%, respectively in 1983 - 2007 periods. While the mutton productivity has been above Turkey’s average in the East and Middle regions, they have been under Turkey’s average in the West, North and South regions. The analyses show that marketing margin for mutton changes between 20.82 - 15.91%. According to the result of the econometric analysis, the important factors in mutton production in the west and middle regions are mutton price; and beef price in the east region. On the other hand, the most important factor in mutton production in the middle region is technology. This situation needs to be assessed attentively.

Key words: Sheep, mutton, NUTS Level 1, Turkey.