In Ukraine, in January-October 2025, the volume of cattle slaughter for beef in farms of all categories amounted to 286.2 thousand tons, which is 8% less than in the same period of 2024, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association specified that cattle slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises decreased to 106.9 thousand tons (-3%), and at private farms – to 179.3 thousand tons (-11%) compared to January-October 2024.
The largest share (57%) of cattle slaughtered at agricultural enterprises was in the Kyiv (15.41 thousand tons), Poltava (13.33 thousand tons), Cherkasy (11.72 thousand tons), Vinnytsia (9.73 thousand tons), and Chernihiv (9.36 thousand tons) regions, according to the AVM.
As of November 1, 2025, there were 2.2 million head of cattle in Ukraine’s private and industrial sectors, including 1.11 million cows, which is 3% and 1% less than in October of this year and 10% and 10% less than in the same period last year, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP), citing data from the State Statistics Committee.
The industry association specified that about 47% of animals are kept on industrial farms, and 53% on private farms.
According to the AMU, the industrial sector has 947,100 head of cattle, which is 2,000 head more (+0.2%) than on October 1, 2025. The number of cows is 384,100, an increase of 500 head (+0.1%) over the last month. Over the past year, the number of cattle on farms has increased by 28,600 (+3%), and the number of cows has increased by 8,800 (+2%).
At the same time, there are 1.74 million head of cattle in the private sector, which is 64 thousand head (-6%) less than on October 1, 2025. As of November 1, 2025, the number of cows in private households was 721,200, which is 17,000 (-2%) less than a month ago. Over the past year, the number of cattle in private households has decreased by 253,000 (-19%), and the number of cows has decreased by 137,000 (-16%).
AVM analyst Georgy Kukhaleishvili noted that the number of cows is declining mainly in the private sector. The decline in cattle numbers is a long-standing problem in Ukraine due to the lack of an effective state program to support dairy farming. The war has only exacerbated the situation.
The expert recalled that most farms in Ukraine were built in the 1970s and 1980s and no longer meet the requirements for keeping animals. The lack of premises suitable for keeping cows creates the conditions for a further reduction in livestock numbers. Many farmers are not investing in increasing their cow herds during the war and are experiencing a shortage of working capital. Farmers’ production costs are rising faster than the prices of finished products due to the increase in the cost of feed, the cost of electricity, the devaluation of the hryvnia, and the decline in the purchasing power of the population.
However, dairy farms in relatively safe regions of Ukraine are modernizing existing facilities and building new ones. They are also increasing their high-yielding cow herds. According to AVM estimates, as of November, at least 40 farms are modernizing and expanding their facilities.
However, in October, the growth rate of the cow herd in the industrial sector also slowed down, which may be related to the continuing “bearish trend” in the dairy market and the decline in prices for exchange-traded commodities and raw milk. Over the past month, the number of cows has not changed and has not grown on dairy farms in 14 regions, not only in the frontline regions, but also in relatively safe areas of central and western Ukraine, such as Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad regions, the AVM summarized.
Cattle slaughter in July 2025 amounted to 14.8 thousand tons, which is 6 thousand tons more (+63%) than in June 2025 and 1 thousand tons more (+7%) than in July 2024, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association noted that in July 2025, enterprises produced 50% of beef from the total slaughter volume, and private farms produced 50%.
Cattle slaughter volumes in January-July 2025 amounted to 98.5 thousand tons, which is 4 thousand tons less (-4%) compared to the same period in 2024.
The AVM noted that in July, cattle slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises amounted to 7.4 thousand tons, which is 1 thousand tons more (+16%) compared to June 2025 and 300 tons more (+4%) compared to July 2024. In January-July 2025, cattle slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises amounted to 46 thousand tons, which is 1.3 thousand tons more (+3%) compared to the same period last year.
In private households, cattle slaughter volumes in July amounted to 7.4 thousand tons, which is 5 thousand tons more (+174%) than in June of this year and 700 tons more (+10%) than in July 2024. In January-July 2025, cattle slaughter in private households amounted to 52.5 thousand tons, which is 5.7 thousand tons less (-10%) than in the same period last year.
At the same time, the largest share (59%) of animals slaughtered was sold by agricultural enterprises in the Kyiv (35.8 thousand head), Poltava (24.6 thousand head), Cherkasy (18 thousand heads), Chernihiv (16.4 thousand heads), and Vinnytsia (14.9 thousand heads) regions.
Cattle slaughter in July 2025 amounted to 14.8 thousand tons, which is 6 thousand tons more (+63%) than in June 2025 and 1 thousand tons more (+7%) than in July 2024, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association noted that in July 2025, enterprises produced 50% of beef from the total slaughter volume, and private farms produced 50%.
Cattle slaughter volumes in January-July 2025 amounted to 98.5 thousand tons, which is 4 thousand tons less (-4%) compared to the same period in 2024.
The AVM noted that in July, cattle slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises amounted to 7.4 thousand tons, which is 1 thousand tons more (+16%) compared to June 2025 and 300 tons more (+4%) compared to July 2024. In January-July 2025, cattle slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises amounted to 46 thousand tons, which is 1.3 thousand tons more (+3%) compared to the same period last year.
In private households, cattle slaughter volumes in July amounted to 7.4 thousand tons, which is 5 thousand tons more (+174%) than in June of this year and 700 tons more (+10%) than in July 2024. In January-July 2025, cattle slaughter in private households amounted to 52.5 thousand tons, which is 5.7 thousand tons less (-10%) than in the same period last year.
At the same time, the largest share (59%) of animals slaughtered was sold by agricultural enterprises in the Kyiv (35.8 thousand head), Poltava (24.6 thousand head), Cherkasy (18 thousand heads), Chernihiv (16.4 thousand heads), and Vinnytsia (14.9 thousand heads) regions.
Astarta, Ukraine’s largest sugar producer, increased its average cattle herd to 29,000 head (+4%) in January-June 2025.
According to data published by the holding company on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, in the first half of this year, Astarta increased milk yield per cow by 3% to 28 kg/day, which led to a 2% increase in milk production to 63,000 tons.
Revenue in the segment grew by 17% to EUR29 million due to an 11% increase in prices and a 2% increase in sales volumes.
Gross profit decreased by 11% compared to the same period last year to EUR13 million, reflecting higher costs and a revaluation of BA during Q1 2025. Gross margin decreased from 57% to 43% in the first half of 2025.
EBITDA amounted to EUR12 million compared to EUR15 million in the first half of 2024.
The agricultural holding estimated its share in milk production in Ukraine at 3%.
Astarta is a vertically integrated agricultural holding operating in eight regions of Ukraine and the largest sugar producer in Ukraine. It comprises six sugar factories, agricultural enterprises with a land bank of 220,000 hectares, dairy farms with 22,000 head of cattle, an oil extraction plant in Hlobyn (Poltava region), seven elevators, and a biogas complex.
In 2024, Astarta increased its net profit by 34.5% to EUR83.25 million, while its consolidated revenue decreased by 1.1% to EUR612.15 million.
In the first quarter of this year, the agricultural holding’s revenue fell by 24.9% to EUR124.58 million, while net profit fell by 28.8% to EUR6.42 million.
As of August 1, 2025, there were 2 million 151.5 thousand head of cattle in the private and industrial sectors of Ukraine, which is 18 thousand head (-0.8%) less than a month ago and 8% less than a year ago, according to the Milk Producers Association, citing data from the State Statistics Service.
The industry association noted that the number of cows currently stands at 1.14 million, which is 5,800 (-0.5%) fewer than at the beginning of July this year and 9% fewer than a year ago. About 43% of animals are kept on industrial farms, and 57% on private farms.
The industrial sector has 923,500 head of cattle, which is 2,000 head more (+0.2%) than on July 1, 2025. The number of cows is 381,600 and has decreased by 500 head (-0.1%) over the last month. Over the past year, the number of cattle on enterprises has decreased by 1.7 thousand heads (-0.18%), but the number of cows has increased by 1.4 thousand heads (+0.4%).
There are 1.228 million head of cattle in the private sector, which is 20 thousand head less (-1.6%) compared to a month ago. As of early August 2025, the number of cows in private households was 758,800, which is 5,000 (-0.7%) less than a month ago. Over the past year, the number of cattle in private households has decreased by 192,000 (-14%), and the number of cows has decreased by 108,000 (-12%).
AVM analyst Georgiy Kukhaleishvili, whose words are quoted in the report, noted that the decline in cattle numbers is a long-standing problem in Ukraine due to the lack of an effective state program to support dairy farming, and the war has only exacerbated the situation. Currently, there is a sharp decline in livestock numbers in the east and south, with agricultural enterprises relocating cows from the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions to safer regions in western and central Ukraine amid intensified Russian missile and bomb strikes on border and frontline settlements, the expert comments on the situation.
“Most farms in Ukraine were built in the 1970s and 1980s, and they no longer meet the requirements for keeping animals. The lack of premises suitable for keeping cows creates the conditions for a further reduction in livestock numbers. Many farmers are not investing in increasing their cow herds during the war because they are experiencing a shortage of working capital,” the industry association noted.
The UBA reminded that according to the study “Ukraine: the impact of war on the profitability of agricultural production,” conducted by the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy with the support of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), farmers’ production costs are rising faster than prices for finished products due to rising feed and electricity prices, as well as the devaluation of the hryvnia and a decline in the purchasing power of the population.
