Cost-effectiveness of animal protein consumption in Turkey

Abstract

The most tangible economic indicator of animal protein consumption is the real price of 1 g protein of a certain quality. The present study aimed to determine and compare the cost-effectiveness of some animal proteins in Turkey. To determine cost-effectiveness, average protein contents (g/100 g), biological values (%), and inflation-adjusted 36-month real prices (TRY/kg) of eight different foods of animal origin were used. The ANOVA test yielded a significant difference between the cost-effectiveness of selected animal proteins (P<0.01 and η2 = 0.973). Multiple comparisons revealed that chicken meat and chicken egg, between which there was no significant difference, were economically superior to other foods (P < 0.05). Cow’s milk and homogenized yogurt, between which there was no significant difference, took second place in terms of cost-effectiveness. These products were followed by fresh kashar cheese, ripened Turkish white cheese, beef meat, and mutton meat. There were also significant relationships between the unit prices of certain animal products. Although the real price of 1 g of animal protein varies according to time and place depending on the factors affecting supply and demand, the global economic advantage of egg and chicken meat coincides with the dimensions of health and religious beliefs. If today’s demographic, climatic, biological, and technological developments can make animal protein production cheaper and more reliable, consumer welfare in underdeveloped and developing countries can increase.