Structural Characteristics and Problems of Dairy Cattle Farms in Manyas District of Balıkesir Province

This study aimed to determine the structural characteristics and problems of dairy cattle farms in Manyas district of Balıkesir province. The main material of the study consists of data obtained through a survey from 125 dairy farmers determined by stratified random sampling method. The research data covers February and March 2024. Descriptive statistics and the five-point likert scale method were used in the analysis of the study data. The study results revealed that 96% of farmers were male, the average age was 48.5, the average education level was 8.8 years, the average household size was 4.2 people and the average dairy farming experience was 22 years. Also, the most important problem related to dairy farming activities in farms has been determined as inadequate livestock supports. This is followed by problems such as ineffective unions or cooperatives, high prices of roughage and concentrated feed, inability to compete with corporate-sized farms and failure of artificial insemination. As a result, it is expected that the research findings will contribute to the improvement of the structural characteristics of farms in the district, the determination of the problems related to dairy cattle activities and the policy and decision makers in the applications related to this activity.