Current Conditions and Animal Feeding Habits of Fattening Enterprises of Ankara Çankırı, Çorum, Kırıkkale and Kırşehir Provinces

The aim of this study was to determine general conditions of the feedlot enterprises present at 5 provinces (Ankara, Çankırı, Çorum, Kırşehir and Kırıkkale) in Central-Anatolia region. These feedlot enterprises were evaluated by using a survey containing questions about general conditions of barns, obtaining of materials and marketing methods, feeding and animal-care practices, nutrient compositions of forages and concentrate feedstuffs used in the region, satisfaction of farmers by doing their job, and factors hardening their productiveness. One-two persons was employed at 54.50% and only 12.10% of farm owner were university graduated at enterprises present at region. 56.10% of barn was sheltered type barn and animals were chained at 66.20% of farm. Lighting of barn and feeder space status was well but bed-cleaning were mainly depended on labor (68.30%). Close-markets were the most important source to buy live animal material (42.40%). Approximately half of forage needed (45.50%) and significant portion of concentrate feed (84.80%) were bought from market. Considerable percentages (54.60%) of animals were marketed as alive at the end of fattening period. 57.60% of enterprises used readily mixed concentrate feed and 56.10% of farm did not have any equipment for mixing and serving of feed. Almost half of the farm used well water and pasture to reduce farm expenses. The most important criteria to end fattening seemed to be personal experiences (69.70%). 63.60% of farmers were satisfied with their job and planning to continue. Primary factor hardening their job were the cost of feed with the clear differences among all provinces visited. In conclusion, when the feedlot farmers were evaluated it was noted that the scale of feedlots and education level of farmers increased. Thus, the use of knowledge and technology among farmers and infra structures of barn improved. The cost of feed was the number one cause among the most common problems hardening their job.