Statistical analysis of production of livestock products of Ukraine

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problems of livestock production in Ukraine. The study analysed the dynamics of livestock production – milk, meat (beef, pork, lamb and poultry), honey. A general trend towards quantitative changes in all branches of livestock farming was revealed. A significant reduction in livestock numbers occurred mainly at the expense of agricultural enterprises. At the same time, the livestock numbers of the main animal species decreased insignificantly in households. It is proved that about two-thirds of all milk and meat production in Ukraine is concentrated mainly in households, for which this type of activity is a significant source of income through the sale of products in urban markets. It was found that the main reasons for the sharp decrease in livestock in agricultural enterprises are the critical unprofitability of the production of the main types of meat and milk, the high cost of feed, especially concentrated, the low share of fodder crops in the country's grain balance, the presence of cheap imports on the Ukrainian market, the disparity in prices for agricultural and industrial products, and the reduction of state support for the livestock industry. Further delay in solving these problems will hinder the development of the livestock industry in Ukraine, reduce the country's food security, contribute to the lag of the domestic industry from foreign producers, and increase the deficit of high-quality milk and meat on the market. The study revealed that the poultry industry has undergone quite significant quantitative and qualitative changes during the analysed period. Poultry production today is concentrated mainly in large agro-industrial companies (agroholdings), which, by investing significant amounts of capital, have organized large-scale industrial production with a full cycle - from poultry farming to its sale. The positive situation combined with the high purchasing power of the world market stimulates Ukrainian producers to increase the number of poultry in the country. It was found that the growing demand for honey on the world market was one of the reasons for the increase in honey production in Ukraine. After the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU countries, honey production in Ukraine became completely export-oriented.