Eight regions of Ukraine keep more than half of the total cattle population: current data

During March 2025, positive dynamics were recorded in Ukraine regarding cattle (cattle) - their number increased, and the rate of reduction in the number of cows slowed down. This was reported by the press service of the Association of Milk Producers (AVM) with reference to preliminary data from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

As of April 1, 2025, 2 million 138.4 thousand cattle are kept in Ukraine, including 1 million 149.9 thousand cows. Compared to March 1 of this year, the total number of cattle increased by 56 thousand heads (+3%), while the number of cows decreased by only 200 heads (-0.02%). Compared to the same period in 2024, the indicators show a decline: the total number of cattle decreased by 178 thousand heads (-8%), and the number of cows - by 107 thousand heads (-9%).

About 43% of cattle are kept at industrial enterprises, while the remaining 57% are on household farms. The industrial sector has 916.8 thousand heads of cattle - 1 thousand heads less compared to the previous month. At the same time, the number of cows in this segment increased by 500 heads (+0.1%), reaching 377.2 thousand. Over the past year, the total number of cattle at enterprises has almost not changed, while the number of cows has decreased by 1.8 thousand heads (-0.5%).

The household sector showed an increase of 5% - to 1 million 221.6 thousand heads of cattle. However, the number of cows in households decreased by 1 thousand heads per month and currently stands at 772.7 thousand. The annual dynamics indicate a significant decrease: the cattle population decreased by 178 thousand heads (-13%), and the number of cows - by 106 thousand (-12%).

Despite the overall decrease, positive changes in the number of cows were recorded at agricultural enterprises in Ternopil (+9%), Mykolaiv (+6%), Khmelnytskyi (+5%), Lviv (+4%), Cherkasy (+3%), Poltava (+1%) and Vinnytsia (+1%) regions compared to April last year. In total, about 55% of the cattle population is concentrated in eight regions: Khmelnytskyi (195.4 thousand heads), Poltava (172.9 thousand), Vinnytsia (168.9 thousand), Ternopil (131.6 thousand), Odessa (131.5 thousand), Cherkasy (124.3 thousand), Chernihiv (123.2 thousand) and Zakarpattia (118.2 thousand) regions.

Experts note that the reduction in the cattle population in Ukraine has a long-standing nature, caused by the lack of effective state programs to support dairy farming. The war only deepened this crisis: farmers are forced to reduce their livestock due to a shortage of working capital, increased costs for feed, diesel fuel and electricity, as well as a decrease in the profitability of dairy production. Additional challenges include landmine hazards and the reduction of pastures and agricultural land.

In response to these challenges, Ukraine is working on new mechanisms to support domestic milk producers and processors to strengthen their competitiveness in the European market. Special support programs are expected to be implemented to stabilize the dairy sector and preserve an important sector for the country's agricultural economy.