On-site evaluation support from MAKÜ to dairy cattle enterprises in the Aegean Region

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) continues its field studies without slowing down within the scope of the ‘Dairy Cattle Enterprises Certification Program’ implemented to spread the understanding of quality, efficiency, and sustainable production in the livestock sector. In this context, during on-site evaluation visits conducted in the Aegean Region, two enterprises operating in the Tire district of İzmir and one enterprise in the Efeler district of Aydın were comprehensively examined.

The examinations carried out offer an innovative model that encourages quality-focused production in the sector by combining MAKÜ's academic expertise in veterinary and livestock fields with practical experience in the field. This certification program, which sets an example for the livestock sector in Turkey, not only provides quality certificates but also aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and field reality.

During the visits, the evaluation process conducted under the leadership of MAKÜ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine faculty members Prof. Dr. Erhan Keyvan, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Afşin Köker, and Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Önder Akkaş included multidimensional analyses on many topics, from the organizational structure of enterprises to herd health, animal welfare practices to hygiene and sanitation, milk productivity to feeding systems.

Findings obtained from one-on-one meetings with business owners were shared, and scientifically based and applicable suggestions for improvement areas were presented. Additionally, mutual information exchange was provided on topics such as animal health, productivity increase, digital recording systems, and current sectoral developments.

MAKÜ, the first and only authorized institution in Turkey for certification

While the program was developed by the Standardization and Certification Application and Research Center in Agriculture and Livestock (THSBUAM) within MAKÜ, the certification processes are carried out by MAKÜ Technology Transfer Office Inc., the first and only institution authorized in Turkey by TÜRKAK within the scope of the TS EN ISO/IEC 17065 standard. Thanks to this structure, the program maintains its scientific quality and fully complies with international quality standards.

Considering the strategic position of the dairy cattle sector in the Turkish economy, it is stated that such certification activities are of great importance in terms of sustainable development, food safety, and sectoral competitiveness. The nationwide dissemination of the program aims to directly contribute to the sector's capacity to generate added value, as well as to strengthen compliance with international standards.

This holistic model, which aims not only for quality assurance but also for the transfer of academic knowledge to the field, supporting rural development, and strengthening university-community cooperation, aims to create a widespread transformation in the dairy cattle sector by being implemented in different regions of Turkey in the coming period.

MAKÜ continues its pioneering role in agriculture and livestock with determination through these studies, which it carries out with the mission of contributing to national livestock policies.