In 2025, Turkey’s livestock inventories are projected to fall 4%, reaching 15 million head, according to the USDA office in Ankara. The dairy cattle population is expected to continue its downward trend in 2025 due to increased cow slaughter driven by low producer raw milk prices.
In 2024, total livestock imports are estimated to be 550,000 head, representing a 32% decrease from 2023. This figure is slightly lower than the government’s target, which was to import 600,000 head of feedlot cattle to regulate domestic beef prices. The 2024 estimate assumes imports will be primarily feeder cattle due to government support for the feeder cattle industry. Following the discovery of IAHP in some dairy cattle herds in the United States, Türkiye imposed a ban on imports of live cattle from the United States in April 2024.
In 2025, Turkey’s livestock imports are forecast to decline a further 30% to 420,000 head due to projected contractions in availability from major livestock supplying countries and global demand. In line with historical trends, the majority of these animals will be feedlot cattle for beef production.
By 2024, beef imports are expected to reach a record 80,000 tons, 131% more than the previous year, due to low domestic production and in an effort to regulate beef prices.
In 2025, beef production is forecast to rise slightly to 1.7 million tonnes as producers continue to reduce livestock inventories. With declining cow slaughter and lower feeder cattle imports in 2024, beef production is expected to stagnate at around 1.6 million tonnes. The USDA office in Ankara notes that production has been limited because producers are culling underweight animals to minimize losses and because of low carcass yields. Slaughter weights are currently between 270-300kg, compared to over 400kg in the past.
