Türkgeldi

Türkgeldi is a Turkish sheep breed or stabilized composite associated with the Türkgeldi state farm in Thrace, the European part of Turkey. It was developed in the broader program of improving local Kıvırcık-type sheep while keeping them useful under regional pasture and village conditions. East Friesian-related dairy influence is commonly noted in its background, but the practical aim was a balanced ewe with better milk yield, lamb growth, and prolificacy than unimproved local stock. Animals are generally medium-sized, white or light colored, and suited to the mixed dairy-meat role common in Turkish sheep farming.

Management is usually semi-intensive: ewes graze when pasture is available, receive stored feed around lambing and milking, and are selected for udder quality as well as lamb survival. In wetter parts of Thrace, foot health and internal parasites can matter as much as winter feeding. Because Türkgeldi is not a widely exported name, identification outside Turkey may rest on flock records, breeder knowledge, or links to research and state-farm lines. It is best understood as a regional production sheep rather than an ornamental rare breed.