There are 5.2 million heads of cattle in Ukraine
The number of farm animals in Ukraine is increasing. Thus, cattle increased by 2.6 %. This index is observed in the Crimea, Zaporizhzhya, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi and Odesa. Besides, the number of pigs and poultry in all categories of farms also increased. According to the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, this shows the increased motivation in animal husbandry among the farmers. Government support programs contribute this process.
«Over the past few years, we finally managed to overcome the negative trends in the livestock. In all categories of farms it was established a stable dynamic to increase both livestock and production of livestock products such as meat, milk, eggs. Thus, for 9 months, the number of cattle has increased by 2.6% and reached 5.2 million heads. This provided the increased production of cow milk by 0.8%,» said the Minister.
Vinnytsya region is the leader. There are 369.7 thousand heads. In Lviv — 320.8, Poltava — 308.9 and Khmelnitsky — 307.6. However, the most significant increase was in the Crimea (15.1 %), Zaporizhzhya region (13.2%), Mykolaiv (7.1%), Khmelnytskyi (6.7%) and Odesa (5,1 %).
According to the Minister, there is such positive tendency due to the fact that farmers are more motivated to work in the animal husbandry. Thus, the State pays them special grants for young cattle keep and animal supplies to the processing plants. So, farmers can produce quality and safe milk because the State partially reimburses the costs of the purchased milking machines.
«This industry needs help. We should attract investments. This will improve the production technology; increase the volume of livestock and livestock products and reduce import. The State also encourages farmers to unite into the cooperatives to achieve such results,» said the Minister.
Besides, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine proposes to direct the funds from the accumulation of VAT into this industry.