In 2024, pigs, sheep, rabbits, poultry and even horses raised on household farms and sent for slaughter were noticeably heavier than their industrially bred counterparts. Only domestic cows were inferior in weight. Household farms kept more sheep, horses and rabbits than industrial farms. The Page analyzed the state of livestock farming in Ukraine in 2025 and the main market trends.
Statistics of livestock enterprises
At the beginning of 2025, there were 652 thousand active enterprises and 1.71 million sole proprietors in Ukraine (State Statistics Service data). Among them, there were relatively few specializing in livestock farming:
- dairy cattle breeding — 575 enterprises and 488 sole proprietors;
- other livestock — 91 and 51;
- horses — 38 and 22;
- sheep and goats — 95 and 133;
- pigs — 388 and 613;
- poultry — 441 and 555.
Livestock price indices are approximately at the average level for the industry. In particular, according to the results of 2024, the index of the entire industry is 119.7, and in animal husbandry they are as follows: production of meat and meat products — 118.2, production of dairy products — 116.1.
When assessing the financial results of large and medium-sized enterprises, the State Statistics Service does not single out livestock breeders separately. In general, in agriculture, the share of unprofitable enterprises according to the results of 2024 was 11.6%. This is the lowest figure among all industries, even in finance and insurance (15.6%) and wholesale and retail trade (15.7%) the indicators are worse. The average salary in the country in 2024 was UAH 21,473, and in agriculture — only UAH 17,630.
Livestock farm statistics
The number of animals and poultry in Ukraine was at its maximum in 1990, since then it has been constantly declining, and in some categories the decline in numbers has exceeded 10 times.
Dynamics of the number of farm animals and poultry from 1990 to 2025:
- cattle — there were 25.2 million heads, now there are 2 million;
- pigs — 19.9 million and 4.5 million;
- sheep and goats — 9 million and 0.8 million;
- poultry — 255 million and 188 million.
Moreover, the number of poultry was minimal (123 million heads) in 1998 and 2001.
In Ukraine, a significant number of animals and poultry continue to be raised in households. Such farms contained more sheep, horses and rabbits than industrial farms.
In 2024, the livestock of all types of farms decreased in almost all categories, and in households — in all categories. The number of cattle has decreased especially significantly — it is becoming increasingly difficult to raise cows and calves in individual farms.
Against this background, farmers' interest in raising poultry on industrial farms has noticeably increased — they are attracted by the current profitability of this process.
Livestock change in 2024
Meat production
The volume of cattle slaughter in April 2025 in Ukraine amounted to 16.8 thousand tons, which is 3% less than in March and 16% less than in April last year, the Milk Producers Association reported, citing data from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
The industry association noted that in January-April, slaughter volumes amounted to 60.9 thousand tons, which is 10% less than the same period in 2024.
Most of all (62% in total) animals were sold for slaughter at agricultural enterprises in the following regions:
- Vinnytsia — 219.9 thousand tons;
- Cherkasy — 146.6 thousand tons;
- Dnepropetrovsk — 124.5 thousand tons;
- Lviv — 72.2 thousand tons;
- Kiev — 63.8 thousand tons.
Last year, pigs, sheep, rabbits, poultry and even horses raised on household farms and sent for slaughter were noticeably heavier than their industrially bred relatives. And only domestic cows were inferior to them in weight.
Milk production
Despite the loss of capacity in the east of the country, dairy production does not stop, but shifts to the central and western regions. Currently, 125 dairy farms are being built or modernized in Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy reported.
According to the results of last year, the leaders in the number of industrial cows were the following regions:
- Poltava — 52.7 thousand heads;
- Cherkasy — 44 thousand;
- Chernihiv — 35.4 thousand;
- Kiev — 34 thousand;
- Vinnytsia — 31.5 thousand.
Together, these regions form 51% of the total industrial cow population in Ukraine.
The largest increase in the industrial cow population in 2024 was recorded in Mykolaiv (14%) and Ternopil (10%) regions.
Average milk yield per cow in 2024 (2023), kg
In 2024, more than 90% of the milk received for processing was obtained from industrial farms. The highest growth in production volumes over the year was noted in Mykolaiv (18%), Ternopil (13%) and Khmelnytskyi (9%) regions.
In 2024, due to power outages and abnormal heat, milk yields fell by 25% or more in more than half of the farms. However, industrial dairy farms demonstrated record productivity growth — the average milk yield there was 20% higher compared to the pre-war 2021. The Ternopil region is the leader in milk yield per "industrial" cow — 9905 kg of milk per year. Quality indicators have also improved: 55% of milk was sent for processing, – extra grade and 25% – premium grade.
There is a possibility of a decrease in the volume of dairy product exports to the EU after the abolition of autonomous trade measures for milk and dairy products from Ukraine from June 6, 2025, which since 2022 allowed domestic processing plants to supply their products to the EU without quotas and duties. For example, in 2024, Ukrainian companies exported 14.9 thousand tons of dry skim milk to the EU, while the annual quota for it for Ukraine is only 5 thousand tons, exports for the first four months of 2025 already amounted to 4.3 thousand tons.
Number of eggs collected in 2024 (2023)
State aid to livestock breeders
Livestock breeders have access to the preferential lending program "5-7-9%", in addition, within its framework, a mechanism for partial compensation of the cost of construction and reconstruction of livestock complexes will be launched in 2025.
Since the beginning of 2025, 3965 agricultural enterprises have attracted UAH 24.4 billion under this state program. And under various financing programs, 8624 agricultural enterprises have attracted UAH 54.6 billion in credit resources.
In 2024, 13,088 agricultural enterprises received UAH 104.5 billion in bank loans for development. Under the Affordable Loans 5-7-9 program, 8,750 farms were financed for UAH 46.9 billion.
In addition, there is a special budget subsidy for livestock breeders for keeping cows and sheep (goats). The subsidy is UAH 7,000 per cow if the owner has 3 to 100 cows and UAH 2,000 for keeping goats and sheep (up to 500 animals). Payments of these subsidies are financed by assistance from international partners. In early May, Ukraine received the second tranche of UAH 390 million in grant funds from the World Bank. Of these funds, UAH 56.5 million is planned to be allocated for subsidies for cows, and UAH 2.5 million for sheep and goats.
The first tranche of 386 million has already been paid to 7,766 thousand farms and other agricultural producers. Applications for subsidies are accepted in the State Agrarian Register and are satisfied as funds become available.