In Ukraine in March 2025, the number of cattle increased, while the rate of reduction in the number of cows slowed down. This was reported in the Association of Milk Producers ( APM ).
According to Minagro, as of April 1, 2025, there are 2 million 138.4 thousand heads of cattle, including 1 million 149.9 thousand cows, in the household and industrial sector of Ukraine. Compared to March 1, 2025, the number of cattle in Ukraine increased by 56 thousand heads (+3%), while the number of cows decreased by 200 heads (-0.02%).
About 43% of animals are kept in industrial enterprises, and 57% - in household farms.
The industrial sector contains 916.8 thousand heads of cattle, which is by 1 thousand heads (-0.1%) less in relation to March 1, 2025. The number of cows is 377.2 thousand and increased by 500 heads (+0.1%) over the last month.
There are 1 million 221.6 thousand head of cattle in the homestead sector, which is 57 thousand head (+5%) more compared to March 1, 2025. The number of cows in household farms on April 1, 2025 amounted to 772.7 thousand heads, which is 1 thousand head less (-0.1%) than a month ago.
It is noted that the growth of the number of cows was recorded in agricultural enterprises of Ternopil region (+9%), Mykolayiv region (+6%), Khmelnitsky region (+5%), Lviv region (+4%), Cherkasy region (+3%), Poltava region (+1%) and Vinnitsa region (+1%) compared to April 1 last year.
According to APM analyst George Kukhaleishvili, the number of cattle in Ukraine has been declining for many years. The main reason he calls the lack of effective state support for dairy farming.
The situation worsened significantly with the outbreak of a full-scale war, which accelerated the rate of herd reduction. The situation is particularly difficult in the regions close to the front line: cows there are often killed as a result of shelling by Russian troops.
In addition, many farmers were forced to leave animals in the occupied territories. Also the decrease in numbers is affected by sending wounded animals for culling.