Department of Animal Science

The Department of Animal Science started its activities with the establishment of the "Mediterranean University Burdur Faculty of Veterinary Medicine" on July 3, 1992, by Law No. 3837. Later, it was affiliated with Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, established in Burdur by Law No. 5467 on March 17, 2006, and continues its educational and research activities. Our department began its educational and research activities with the contributions of Prof. Dr. Mehmet EVRİM and Assoc. Dr. Mahiye ÖZÇELİK since 2002. As of 2026, there are a total of 7 faculty members in the Department of Animal Science at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, including 2 Professors, 2 Associate Professors, 1 Assistant Professor, and 2 Research Assistants.

The Department of Animal Science deals with the morphological and physiological characteristics of farm animals, productivity levels, methods of improving productivity through breeding techniques, and principles of rational care and breeding suitable for animal welfare. Studies are conducted on various species such as Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Chickens, Pigs, Horses, Cats, and Dogs, which can be defined as animal husbandry and breeding.

Within our Faculty's Department of Animal Science, compulsory courses such as Animal Science I, Animal Science II, Animal Breeding, Animal Welfare, and Internship training (Clinical Animal Science) are offered; elective courses such as Cat and Dog Breeding, Wildlife, Laboratory Animal Breeding, Alternative Poultry Breeding, and Technology Use in Herd Management; and multidisciplinary courses such as Herd Health and Management, Digitalization in Veterinary Medicine, Beekeeping and Diseases are provided theoretically and practically.

The first Doctorate program of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University was opened in 2008 under the Department of Animal Science. The Thesis Master's program also started in the same year, and currently, both Thesis Master's and Doctorate education are ongoing in the department.

The Department of Animal Science has actively participated in the project planning and management of our Faculty's Education, Research, and Application farm. Training seminars are organized for livestock breeders in the region, and project, feasibility, and consultancy services related to their fields are provided.

Many national and international projects and studies aimed at the development of animal husbandry in our country, especially in the Teke Region, are being carried out in the Department of Animal Science. The Department of Animal Science has conducted many projects to obtain data that will define the breed in the registration stages of the Honamlı goat, one of our country's important goat breeds.

The Department of Animal Science provides theoretical and practical training to our undergraduate and graduate students, equipping them to respond to the needs of the livestock sector. Additionally, scientific research conducted aims to develop methods that will increase productivity in the field of animal husbandry, support sustainable production, and prioritize animal welfare.

Beyond being merely an academic unit, the Department of Animal Science serves as a center that provides scientific contributions to our country's livestock policies and guides producers at regional and national levels. Its vision is to have a say at the international level in the science of animal husbandry; its mission is to train future scientists by centering sustainable production and animal welfare.

National and International Projects Conducted by the Department of Animal Science

Projects Supported by National Institutions:

• “Determination of Various Characteristics of Honamlı Goat Breed”, TÜBİTAK Project, 109R020 (Completed, 2011).
• “Determination of the Current Status of Dairy Cattle Enterprises in Burdur Province”, MAKÜ Scientific Research Projects Management Unit. 0038-NAP-08 (Completed, 2010).
• “Determination of Some Behavioral Characteristics of Honamlı, Hair, and Saanen Goats in Forest and Scrub Areas” TÜBİTAK, 3001 – START-UP R&D PROJECT SUPPORT PROGRAM, 2015-2016.
• “Determination of the reproductive, milk yield, and carcass characteristics of the Honamlı goat breed and comparison of the anatomical characteristics of this breed osteologically with the Hair goat.” TÜBİTAK (1001 - Scientific and Technological Research Project Support Program), Project No: 112R031 (2013-2016),
• “Obtaining meat goats using local breed males in Saanen herds that do not require breeding.” TÜBİTAK (1002 - Scientific and Technological Research Project Support Program), Project No: 215O879 (2016-2017),
• “Antalya Province Honamlı Goat-1 Breeding Project in Farmers' Hands”, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), (2011-2016),
• “Antalya Province Hair Goat Breeding Project in Farmers' Hands”, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), (2011-2016),
• “Burdur Province Hair Goat Breeding Project in Farmers' Hands”, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), (2011-2016),
• “Burdur Province Honamlı Goat Breeding Project in Farmers' Hands”, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), (2011-2016),
• “Muğla Province Hair Goat Breeding Project in Farmers' Hands”, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), (2011-2016).
• “Determination of Some Descriptive Characteristics of Goats Known as Manavlı” TÜBİTAK (1002-Scientific and Technological Research Project Support Program), Project No: 120O928 (2021-2022)

Projects Supported by International Organizations: 

• The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accepted in the 2019 application period under the Erasmus+ Program Vocational Education Strategic Partnerships (KA202) Activity by the Turkish National Agency of the EU Education and Youth Programs Center, lasting 2 years (from December 2019 to December 2021); Project No. 2019-1-TR01-KA202-077190 “SHEPHERD BRIDGE”
• The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accepted in the 2021 Erasmus + Vocational Education Cooperation Partnerships (KA220-VET) Projects Activity by the Turkish National Agency of the EU Education and Youth Programs Center; Project No. 2021-1-TR01-KA220-VET-000025255 WELFARUMINANT “Dissemination Of Animal Welfare Practices In Farmed Ruminants”
• Agroecological sheep/goat production system based on the valorisation of halophytes of saline areas in the Mediterranean basin / Agroecological Sheep/Goat Production System Based on the Valorization of Halophytes of Saline Areas in the Mediterranean Basin (Acronym: HALOSHEEP), TÜBİTAK Project No. 122N057 International PRIMA Phase 2. (July 1, 2022 - July 1, 2025).