ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING EFFECTIVENESS OF RANGELAND-DEPENDENT DAIRY CATTLE FARMS IN ERZURUM PROVINCE

With a special emphasis on the rangeland condition, factors affecting effectiveness of the farms were researched in this study. Study area covers Erzurum Province, Turkey. Villages were purposively selected from those of which rangeland conditions had been studied previously. Stratified sampling method was employed in determination of the sample size. Data were collected from the randomly selected farmers through face to face interviews, resulted in 99 completed questionnaires. Collected data by structured questionnaires were of 2004-2005 production year. Farms were studied under three farm size groups of 0-12, 12,1-25 and 25+ ha. In analysis of the data stepwise regression and multiple linear and log-linear regression models were used. As farm success criteria, net product and gross margin were calculated for every studied farm. According to the results, rangeland condition, stable type, number of cattle, size of cultivated land, amount of labour per farm and small ruminant flock existence in the village and number of small ruminant were found to be the most important factors affecting farm effectiveness. It was concluded that more robust and long-term studies should be conducted using a wider variation in rangeland condition to confirm the study findings.