Muş’ta günde 20 kilometre yol aşıyorlar: Yüzlerce koyun ve keçiyi sağıyorlar

In the Korkut district of Muş, women milk hundreds of sheep and goats, covering a total of 20 kilometers in the mornings and evenings, and transform the milk into cheese, yogurt, and butter. In Muş, berivanlar (milkmaids) milk hundreds of sheep and goats in the highlands, starting their arduous work in the early morning hours. The women living in the Altınova town of Korkut district, after completing their household chores, take their buckets and containers and head to the highlands where the herds are located. After a difficult journey of about an hour using tractors or horse-drawn carts they rent together, the women reach the area where the animals are kept, complete their preparations, and begin the milking process. Despite the hot weather, the women milk hundreds of sheep and goats, and carry the milk back to the village to be processed into yogurt, cheese, and butter. The berivanlar, who continue the same work every day, morning and evening, contribute to their family budgets by selling a portion of the products they prepare. - "Despite all the difficulties, we continue to work" One of the women, İpek Taş, said that they travel a total of 20 kilometers round trip every day to milk the sheep and goats. Stating that they reach the area where the animals are kept after a difficult journey, Taş noted the following: "We are engaged in animal husbandry. We go back and forth twice a day, in the morning and evening. We travel about 10 kilometers each time, totaling 20 kilometers a day. We work both here and at home. In the summer, when temperatures reach 35-40 degrees Celsius, we take care of our sheep and goats, milk them, and produce and sell cheese from the milk. Our job is really difficult, but we love it. Animal husbandry is our source of livelihood. That's why we continue to work despite all the difficulties." "The responsibilities mostly fall on the shoulders of women" Sabahat Yaprak, one of the Berivan women, stated that they work at a fast pace in village life, saying, "That's how village life is. Some have been involved in livestock farming for 20 years, some for 30 years. I have been doing this job for about 9 years. We have to because we have no other income. If we don't work, we can't make ends meet. Making bread, taking care of the children, housework and all other responsibilities mostly fall on the shoulders of women. We carry the burden of the house and also support livestock farming when needed. We work in difficult conditions, but we try to survive with our labor."