Use of Animal Wastes In Beef Cattle and Enviromental Considerations: A Case Study of Tokat – Turhal District of Turkey.

This study was conducted in Turhal District of Tokat Province in Turkey. Turhal District is an area where beef cattle farming is common. In the study, environmental consequences of solid and liquid animal wastes and reflections of cattle growers on the issue were evaluated. The measures that need to be taken in order to prevent animal wastes without causing environmental pollution were discussed. A questionnaire was conducted over 55 farms in August-September 2009 period. The results of the investigation showed that 70.91% of cattle farms had manure storage facilities and annual manure production (89.41 tons/farm) was higher than the manure storage capacity (76.05 tons/farm). Although the extra manure was stored in open, it was found that it did not bother other people.  Manure is excessively used in agricultural areas in the region. Despite the fact that there was a project implemented in the region to make use of animal wastes, more than half of the producers were not aware of it. There is not an area in the region where all cattle growers are located such as an organized cattle growing area. Besides, growers are not also organized into a farmers union.