Salo will be a deficit: pigs and other farm animals were counted in Ukraine

The State Statistics Service’s data shows that the number of cows, pigs, sheep and goats continues to decline. But the population of poultry has increased, Express-online reported.

In general the number of cattle at the beginning of this month in the country amounted to 3,860,400 heads, which is 4.5% less than last year in this period. Pigs amounted to 6,135,300 heads, which is 8.1% less than last year on April 1. Sheep and goats became less by 4.1%, and poultry - by 1.2% more.

More cows are kept in Vinnytsia region - 148,800 heads, pigs, as well as poultry - in the Kyiv region - 513,000 and 29,168,900 heads, sheep and goats - in Odesa region - 372,100 heads.

"The situation with the number of cattle is unpromising," Ivan Stefanyshyn, an expert on agricultural issues Express-online said. "A significant part of these farm animals is concentrated among the population". Since the keeping of cattle is a laborious and expensive activity, we observe a decrease in the number of livestock by 3-5% annually.In terms of pig production, the policy of combating the African swine fever in the country, which leads to a reduction in the number of these animals, is incomprehensible, in particular, there is a decrease in the number of sows. Accordingly, one should not hope that this year it will be possible to substantially increase the number of pigs. In this case, the import of pork to the country has grown significantly - almost twice. Sheep and goats are mostly kept by peasants, although in comparison with the previous year, the number of these animals on farms has increased".

If we talk about the poultry, then, according to the expert, the number of broilers has increased. This is a world trend. Broiler meat production in three years - from 2013 to 2016 - grew by 5.2 million tons worldwide.

"How the poultry industry in Ukraine will develop depends on the stability of the national currency, as well as on the cost of mixed fodders, which will be affected by the quality and quantity of harvested crops," Ivan Stefanishin said. "Now the poultry is the basis of the meat ration of Ukrainians. This is due to the low level of purchasing power of the population. Therefore, it is very important that poultry farming develops in our country.