cattle,
dairy herd,
cows
Cow Herd Growth Slowed in November
The reduction of the cow herd continues in Ukraine, primarily due to household farms. Growth in the cattle population at agricultural enterprises slowed down in November compared to October 2025, amidst falling raw milk prices and slowing demand for finished products, reports Georghii Kukhaleishvili, analyst at the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
According to preliminary data from State Statistics Service, as of December 1, 2025, the household and industrial sectors of Ukraine held 1 million 943 thousand head of cattle, including 1 million 76.3 thousand cows. Compared to November 1, 2025, the cattle population in Ukraine decreased by 77.8 thousand head (-4%), and the number of cows decreased by 29.3 thousand head (-3%). Compared to December 1, 2024, the cattle population decreased by 236 thousand head (-11%), including cows by 141 thousand head (-12%). Approximately 49% of animals are kept at industrial enterprises, and 51% in household farms.
In the industrial sector, 948 thousand head of cattle are kept, which is 1 thousand head more (+0.1%) compared to November 1, 2025. The cow herd stands at 385.2 thousand head and grew by 1.1 thousand head (+0.3%) over the last month. Over the past year, the cattle population at enterprises increased by 30.7 thousand head (+3%), and the number of cows increased by 9.9 thousand head (+3%).
In the household sector, there are 995 thousand head of cattle, which is 79 thousand head less (-7%) compared to November 1, 2025. The number of cows in household farms as of December 1, 2025, was 690.8 thousand head, which is 30 thousand head less (-4%) than a month ago. Over the past year, the number of cattle in household farms decreased by 266 thousand head (-21%), and the number of cows decreased by 151 thousand head (-18%).
According to preliminary data, growth in the number of cows was recorded at agricultural enterprises in the following regions compared to December 1 of last year: Kharkiv (+16%), Volyn (+15%), Rivne (+13%), Ivano-Frankivsk (+10%), Lviv (+10%), Ternopil (+10%), Khmelnytskyi (+8%), Chernihiv (+6%), Vinnytsia (+3%), Mykolaiv (+3%), Cherkasy (+2%), Zhytomyr (+1%), Kyiv (+1%), and Poltava (+0.2%).
Georghii Kukhaleishvili notes that the cow herd is shrinking mainly in the household sector. The reduction in cattle numbers is a long-standing problem for Ukraine due to the lack of an effective state support program for dairy farming. The war has only worsened the situation. A sharp reduction in livestock continues in the East and South. Agricultural enterprises are relocating cows from Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions to safer regions of Western Ukraine amid intensified Russian missile and bomb strikes on border and frontline settlements. The cow herd has decreased in the Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions, likely due to the culling of unproductive livestock.
Most farms in Ukraine were built in the 1970s and 80s and no longer meet modern animal housing requirements. The shortage of suitable premises creates preconditions for further herd reduction. Many farmers are not investing in increasing cattle numbers during the war and are experiencing a shortage of working capital. According to the study «Ukraine: Impact of War on Agricultural Production Profitability» (conducted by UCAB and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy with GFDRR support), production costs are rising faster than product prices due to the increasing cost of feed and electricity, the devaluation of the hryvnia, and the decline in consumer purchasing power.
However, dairy farms in relatively safe regions are modernizing existing facilities and building new capacities. They are also increasing high-productivity herds. According to AMP calculations, at least 40 farms are currently implementing such measures. Nevertheless, in October, the growth rate of the industrial cow herd also slowed down, which may be linked to the ongoing «bearish trend» in the dairy market and falling prices for commodities and raw milk. Over the last month, the cow herd grew at dairy farms in 14 regions, mostly in relatively safe areas of Central and Western Ukraine.
Regional Breakdown: approximately 51% of the total cattle population is held in the following regions:
- Khmelnytskyi region — 192.20 thousand head;
- Poltava region — 174.30 thousand head;
- Vinnytsia region — 139.20 thousand head;
- Cherkasy region — 128.20 thousand head;
- Chernihiv region — 123.40 thousand head;
- Odesa region — 117.60 thousand head;
- Ternopil region — 109.10 thousand head.