Personnel challenges in Ukrainian pig farming: Research results and prospects

In November of this year, the Association "Swinemakers of Ukraine" conducted a survey, which revealed that every second pig farm in Ukraine faces an urgent shortage of personnel. According to the survey, which covered the members of the association, which represents more than 60% of the industrial pig herd in the country, it was found that the lack of personnel affects not only the field of pig breeding, but also the entire agro-industrial structure.

According to the results of the questionnaire, 26% of the surveyed pig farms experience a shortage of key production personnel, such as technologists, veterinarians and managers of production sites. Also, 26% reported a shortage of support workers such as fitters and electricians.

In addition, 48% of respondents indicated that they experience a shortage of personnel not only in animal husbandry, but also in related industries, such as drivers, tractor drivers, mechanics and agronomists. A large part of the respondents (45%) predict further deterioration of the situation with a shortage of personnel in the next few years.

Iryna Koroleva, communications manager of the "Svynary of Ukraine" Association, indicated that among the main reasons for the shortage of personnel are mobilization and a lack of candidates with a high level of qualification.

Recently, a full-scale war took place in Ukraine, which significantly affected the livestock industry. According to Oksana Yurchenko, the president of the "Swine Farmers of Ukraine" Association, before the war, the largest number of commercial pig farms were located in Kyiv, Donetsk and Lviv regions. However, the war resulted in losses in the sector, with total losses amounting to more than 10%, or more than 300,000 pigs.

Previously, Ukraine imported 12% of the domestic production of industrial pork and 6% of the total production. However, since the beginning of the war, 22,000 tons of pork have been imported into Ukraine, which is twice as much as in the same period in 2021. Since the beginning of 2022, the import of pork to Ukraine has halved. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada remain the main suppliers.