The cattle and sheep breeding and evaluation of animal products in Sivas folklore

The aim of the this study was to contribute to the inventory of Turkish folklore by revealing folkloric knowledge and applications for the evaluation of animal production and cattle and sheep breeding in Sivas region. The material of the study was obtained by using face-to-face interview technique from 102 animal breeders in Sivas region. The data obtained within the scope of the study were examined under the titles of “cattle and sheep breeding” and “evaluation of animal products”. It was found that folkloric terms such as “d？lücek”, “sa？sak”, “e？me”, “hezan”, “akbunluk”, “pernek”, “el？im” were used by farmers of animal rearing. It was also revealed that there are many traditional breeding practices such as “ke？ik gütme”, “？rüm yayma”, “ediklemek”, “kular enemesi”, “kesme”, “buza？？ tezemesi” and “burma”. In addition, it was noted that home and ornament items such as knives and combs from animal horns were produced; socks, mugs, carpets, rugs, sacks, bags and “papak” were weaved from sheep and goat wool; roasted meat and “tike” were made from meat; “k？remez”, “ta？a？？z”, cheese, butter and yogurt were prepared from raw milk. It is concluded that cattle and sheep breeding in Sivas region is based on plateau pasture grazing or barn stockbreeding, the use of local folkloric terms in breeding, and that animals are reared in a largely traditional methods and products of animal are contributed positively to arts, crafts and economics