02.04.2025 08:41
In Erzincan, cattle owners are struggling to find shepherds. Despite offering a monthly salary of 60,000 TL, villagers are unable to find a shepherd and are taking turns to graze their 200 cows. One of the citizens who is next in line for shepherding said, "We haven't been able to find a shepherd since 2010. They used to graze these animals for one and a half cans of wheat. Now, no one even looks at them."
The profession of shepherding, which has been one of the most profitable professions in recent years, has come to the brink of extinction. Despite the high salary, it has become increasingly difficult to find someone who wants to be a shepherd. Even with a monthly offer of 60,000 TL, finding a shepherd has become impossible. Villagers in Erzincan, unable to find a shepherd, have started taking turns to graze the animals in the village.
THEY ESTABLISHED A TURN SYSTEM AMONG THEMSELVES
Livestock owners in the villages connected to Tercan decided to take their animals out to graze themselves when they couldn't find a shepherd. The villagers, who established a turn system among themselves, are grazing their animals in the pastures.
"WE SAID LET'S PAY 60,000 TL, BUT WE COULDN'T FIND A SHEPHERD"
Shinasi Ceylan, who is next in line for shepherding, said, "We are herding cattle, but we can't find a shepherd. The one whose turn it is goes out to graze. Those with 2 cows graze for 1 day, and those with 4 cows graze for 2 days. We have a total of 200 cows. Since we couldn't find a shepherd, we lined up as villagers. We said let's pay 60,000 TL, but we couldn't find a shepherd."
"WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A SHEPHERD SINCE 2010"
A citizen named Asım Genç stated, "We haven't been able to find a shepherd since 2010. The village's livestock is grazed in turns. No one is doing this anymore. In the past, they used to beg for shepherding or guarding jobs. Now they don't want to do it. Very high amounts are being offered. They used to graze these animals for 1.5 tins of wheat. Now, no one even looks at them."