Bulanık Kümeleme Analizi İle Canlı Hayvan Sayılarının Yıllara Göre Sınıflandırılması: Türkiye 2001-2022 Yılları Arası

As a critical part of the agricultural economy, the livestock sector is important for rural development and sustainable economic growth. Turkey has a significant livestock potential thanks to its large pasture areas and geographical location, and animal species such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats play a key role in meeting the needs for meat, milk, and other animal products. In this study, sheep, buffalos, and goats in Turkey between 2001 and 2022 were analyzed with various statistical methods and evaluated in terms of establishing agricultural policies and making strategic decisions about the sector’s future. In recent years, various structural changes and modernization studies have been carried out in Turkey's livestock sector. To examine the effects of these changes and the numerical changes in animal assets, annual animal assets data between 2001 and 2022 were analyzed using fuzzy clustering analysis. The findings provide important information for developing agricultural policies and increasing the productivity of the livestock sector. Fuzzy cluster analysis showed that the data was divided into two distinct clusters: the years 2001-2012 belong to the first cluster, and the years 2013-2022 belong to the second cluster. These results reveal that 2012 was a year of significant change in livestock data. According to the discriminant analysis results, 96% of the clustering was predicted correctly, which shows the accuracy and effectiveness of fuzzy clustering analysis. The findings of the study can be evaluated to better understand the dynamics of the livestock sector in Turkey and to provide guiding information in the formulation of future agricultural policies. This study focuses on efficiency and sustainability issues in the livestock sector and constitutes an important reference for strategic planning for the future of the sector.