The number of cows is decreasing in Ukraine: how the situation is changing in the regions
19 September 2025 14:20
The number of cows in Ukraine continues to decline amid the ongoing war and the displacement of herds from the frontline regions. The largest reductions are observed in households, while the number of cattle at agricultural enterprises remains relatively stable. This is reported by the press service of the Association of Milk Producers.
According to the State Statistics Service, as of September 1, 2025, 2.124 million heads of cattle are kept in Ukraine, of which 1.131 million are cows.
Compared to August 1, 2025, the number of cattle decreased by 27.2 thousand heads (-1.3%), including 9.4 thousand cows (-0.8%).
Compared to September 2024, the decrease was 225 thousand heads (-10%), including 122 thousand cows (-10%).
Industrial and household sector
The industrial sector contains 932.8 thousand heads of cattle, which is 9 thousand more (1%) compared to August. The number of cows is 381.5 thousand, which remained almost unchanged over the month (-100 heads). Over the year, the number of cattle at enterprises increased by 5.1 thousand heads (0.55%), cows – by 2.6 thousand (0.7%).
At the same time, 1.191 million heads of cattle are kept in households, which is 37 thousand less (-3%) compared to August. The number of cows decreased by 9 thousand heads (-1.2%), and by 125 thousand (-14%) over the year.
Regional changes and relocation
According to the State Statistics Service, the largest increase in livestock was recorded at agricultural enterprises in Lviv (13%), Khmelnytsky (7%), Rivne (6%), Ternopil (5%), Volyn (5%) and Vinnytsia (4%) regions.
Analyst Giorgi Kukhaleishvili explains that the decline in cattle numbers has been a long-standing problem in Ukraine due to the lack of effective state support for dairy farming. The war has only worsened the situation. In eastern and southern Ukraine, the number of cows continues to decline sharply, and companies are moving cows from Sumy and Dnipro regions to safer regions in western Ukraine due to increased rocket and bomb attacks.
At the same time, the number of cows is also declining in Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions, likely due to the culling of unproductive animals. The relocation allowed Khmelnytsky, Vinnytsia and Ternopil regions to take the lead in terms of livestock numbers.
Reasons for the decline and challenges for the industry
Most farms in Ukraine were built in the 70s and 80s and do not meet modern requirements for cattle keeping. Lack of suitable premises, shortage of working capital and rising costs of feed, electricity and other resources create conditions for further reduction of the herd. Many farmers do not invest in increasing their livestock during the war.
According to the study “Ukraine: The Impact of War on Agricultural Profitability” conducted by UCAB and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food with the support of GFDRR, farmers’ production costs are growing faster than prices for finished products due to the devaluation of the hryvnia and the decline in the purchasing power of the population.
Regions with the largest number of cattle
About half of the cattle are kept in the following regions:
- Khmelnytsky region – 196.1 thousand heads;
- Poltava region – 178.7 thousand heads;
- Vinnytsia region – 169.1 thousand heads;
- Ternopil region – 132.5 thousand heads;
- Odesa region – 132 thousand heads;
- Cherkasy region – 128 thousand heads;
- Chernihiv region – 125.8 thousand heads.
In general, the situation with the number of cows in the country remains difficult due to a combination of the effects of the war, economic difficulties and aging farm infrastructure.
