Agricultural enterprises have increased the number of cattle compared to the same period last year. However, in January, the number of animals decreased due to their relocation from the frontline zone and increased export volumes of live cattle in December and January, reports Georgii Kukhaleyshvili, an analyst at the Association of Milk Producers Ukraine.
According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Agriculture, as of February 1, 2025, there are 2,029,200 head of cattle in the household and industrial sectors of Ukraine, including 1,156,000 cows. Compared to January 1, 2025, the number of cattle in Ukraine decreased by 300 head (-0.01%), and the number of cows decreased by 21,700 head (-2%). Compared to February 1, 2024, the number of cattle decreased by 153,900 head (-7%), including 103,600 cows (-8%). Approximately 45% of the animals are kept at industrial enterprises, and 55% are in household farms.
In the industrial sector, there are 916,300 head of cattle, which is 1,300 head (-0.1%) less than on January 1, 2025. The number of cows is 377,200 and decreased by 1,000 head (-0.3%) over the last month. Over the past year, the number of cattle at enterprises has increased by 7,100 head (+1%), and the number of cows has increased by 1,200 head (+0.3%).
In the household sector, there are 1,112,900 head of cattle, which is 1,000 head (+0.1%) more compared to January 1, 2025. The number of cows in household farms as of February 1, 2025, was 778,800, which is 20,400 head less (-3%) than a month ago. Over the past year, the number of cattle in household farms has decreased by 161,000 head (-13%), and the number of cows has decreased by 104,800 head (-12%).
Georgii Kukhaleyshvili notes that the reduction in cattle numbers in Ukraine has been ongoing for many years due to the lack of an effective state support program for dairy farming. The reduction accelerated after the full-scale invasion by Russia. A typical situation for frontline regions is the death of some cattle due to shelling by Russian occupiers. Many farmers left their cows in occupied territories. These animals are not accounted for or were confiscated by Russian occupiers and sold for meat. Farmers send injured cows for culling, which also contributes to the reduction in numbers.
Currently, there are conditions for the relocation of farms from the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions to other regions of Ukraine due to increased Russian missile and bomb attacks on border and frontline settlements. Farmers will be able to transfer only part of their livestock since most farms in Ukraine were built in the 1970s-80s and no longer meet the requirements for animal husbandry. The lack of facilities suitable for keeping cows creates prerequisites for further reduction in livestock numbers.
In addition to frontline regions, the number of cattle decreased in agricultural enterprises in the Zakarpattia, Volyn, Rivne, and Chernivtsi regions, likely due to their efforts to improve efficiency and dispose of unproductive cows. In December-January, Ukraine increased cattle exports, taking advantage of demand in foreign markets. The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the German state of Brandenburg led to a reduction in the export of live cattle from the EU. However, the demand for cattle in foreign markets is quite active during the preparation period for Ramadan in Muslim countries.
Many farmers do not invest in increasing cow numbers during the war and face a shortage of working capital. According to the study "Ukraine: The Impact of War on Agricultural Production Profitability," conducted by UCA, the Ministry of Agriculture, with the support of GFDRR, production costs for farmers are rising faster than prices for finished products due to the increase in feed costs, electricity costs, the devaluation of the hryvnia, and the decline in the purchasing power of the population.
There is cautious optimism about the increase in the number of dairy farms in relatively safe regions of Ukraine, which, despite the war, are modernizing existing facilities and building new ones, and increasing the number of high-productive cows. According to AMP estimates, at least 40 farms are currently implementing these measures.
According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the increase in cow numbers occurred in agricultural enterprises in the Mykolaiv region (+11%), Ternopil region (+11%), Lviv region (+10%), Khmelnytskyi region (+7%), Cherkasy region (+4%), Vinnytsia region (+2%), Kyiv region (+1%), Poltava region (+1%) compared to February 1 last year.
About 50% of the total number of cattle are kept in farms of all categories in the following regions:
- Khmelnytskyi region – 193,700 head;
- Poltava region – 169,200 head;
- Vinnytsia region – 153,500 head;
- Ternopil region – 123,900 head;
- Odesa region – 122,300 head;
- Cherkasy region – 121,400 head;
- Chernihiv region – 120,600 head.
Press Service of the Association of Milk Producers
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