The farm animal genetic resources of Turkey: sheep – I – common and rare breeds

Abstract

Biodiversity richness indicates the economic and genetic wealth of a country. Turkey is like a bridge between Europe and Asia; hence it has been used by traders, travelers or intruders for centuries which cause existence of considerable different kinds of domestic animals. Although some of genotypes extinct or crucially under extinction risk, domestic livestock resources of Turkey have not been adequately appraised. On one hand new breeds are domesticated by human, on the other hand much more breeds are getting extinct by human. Creation new breeds supplies to human welfare, but extinction of native breeds also leads to exacerbate human life. In this study, domestic livestock biodiversity and conservation of Turkey is intended to explain by giving brief examples about 21 sheep breeds of Turkey.