Regional price indices for dairy and fattening cattle across Türkiye

The objective of this study was to establish regional live cattle price indices using price records of cattle raised in different geographical regions across Türkiye. The proposed index system was computed according to the Laspeyres and Paasche methods. Thus, price comparisons became possible across provinces and geographical regions. Within the scope of the study, data from 681,321 dairy cattle and 168,933 fattening cattle were analyzed. Price indices were generated according to province, region and breed characteristics. Based on the calculation results, the index value for Holstein dairy cattle was identified as 1.69 in Balıkesir province and 1.13 in Diyarbakır, Türkiye. These regional differences were linked to factors such as production expenditures, accessibility to markets and the regional distribution of feed resources. The calculated index values provide a practical indicator for comparing cattle prices across provinces and regions of Türkiye. The proposed index framework may contribute to the evaluation of regional price differences and support evidence-based assessments by livestock producers, market participants and policymakers.