24.05.2025 15:13
Çağlar Öztürkler, who lives in Aydın and holds two university degrees and a doctorate, is a goat herder. Two years ago, he took his first step into animal husbandry by purchasing a breeding goat for the purpose of providing fresh milk for his daughter. Öztürkler shared the reactions he received from those around him, saying, "At first, my mother said, 'I can't imagine you doing this job.'"
Çağlar Öztürkler, who lives in the Efeler district of Aydın, found himself in the profession of shepherding thanks to a goat he bought to give fresh milk to his daughter. Öztürkler, who has two university degrees and a doctorate, now leads a life intertwined with nature, shepherding with his 62 goats.
Goat herding, which is generally known as a profession for those who do not pursue education in Turkey and whose numbers are decreasing every day, has become the profession of Çağlar Öztürkler, who holds two university degrees and a doctorate in Aydın. When he first started shepherding, Öztürkler faced negative criticism from many, especially his mother, but despite never having lived in a village, he quickly became an expert goat herder.
"I STARTED WITH 1 GOAT"
About two years ago, Çağlar Öztürkler stated that he bought a breeding goat for his daughter to grow up healthier and drink fresh milk, saying, "I am from Aydın, and I have been doing this job for 2 years. I do it with love. We started as a hobby. Gradually, our business grew. As of today, I have 62 animals. I started with 1 goat. I have a 1.5-year-old daughter. Initially, we bought 1 breeding goat so she could drink fresh milk. That goat gave birth first. Then the goats started to give birth. We enjoyed this work, and we got a few goats from outside as well. Our goats multiplied. This year, we had over 30 kids born," he said.
"MY MOTHER SAID 'I DON'T THINK THIS JOB SUITS YOU'"
Çağlar Öztürkler, who is quite different from traditional shepherds and does his job with an earring in his ear and shorts on his legs, stated that his main profession is food technology and business management, saying, "I am a graduate of two universities. I am a food technician. I also graduated from the business faculty. After that, I pursued a master's degree. Some people say, 'Did we educate you to be a shepherd?' At first, my mother said, 'You didn't grow up in a village. I don't think this job suits you.' We don't even have a village. There is no village on either my mother's or father's side. But my wife has always supported me. I do my job with love," he said.
"YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD DO ANIMAL HUSBANDRY"
Öztürkler recommended his profession to young people who have a love for animals but advised them not to think too romantically about it, saying, "I recommend this job to young people, but they need to love animals first. My humble advice to young people is to engage in animal husbandry. The country is going through a difficult period in animal husbandry. In addition, we expect support from our government. This job can be profitable once it reaches a certain capacity. Animal husbandry is like a business and trade. First, you need to reach a certain level and have capital. Once you have a certain number of breeding animals, you can earn money. My love for animals and my child were the reasons that led me to start this job," he stated, expressing that he enjoys his new profession.