The cow population in Ukraine continues to decrease due to low milk prices, rising production costs, and the consequences of war, while in the industrial sector it remains relatively stable. Without the modernization of the dairy processing industry and an increase in procurement prices, there is a risk of a further decrease in the herd size, as farmers are increasingly active in selling livestock against the background of high global beef prices.
According to preliminary data from the State Statistics Service, as of July 1, 2026, 1 million 767.0 thousand head of cattle are kept in the household and industrial sectors of Ukraine, including 941.2 thousand cows. Compared to June 1, 2026, the cattle population in Ukraine decreased by 19.9 thousand head (-1.1%), while the number of cows did not change. Compared to July 1, 2025, the cattle population decreased by 403 thousand head (-19%), including cows by 205 thousand head (-18%). About 54% of the animals are kept at industrial enterprises, and 46% – in household farms.
In the industrial sector, 955.2 thousand head of cattle are kept, which is 4 thousand head more (+0.4%) relative to June 1, 2026. The cow population stands at 396.6 thousand head and increased by 4.7 thousand head (+1.2%) over the last month. Over the last year, the cattle population at enterprises increased by 33.3 thousand head (+4%), and the number of cows increased by 14.5 thousand head (+4%).
In the household sector, there are 811.8 thousand head of cattle, which is 24 thousand head less (-2.9%) compared to June 1, 2026. The number of cows in household farms as of July 1, 2026, stood at 544.6 thousand head, which is 5 thousand head less (-0.9%) than a month ago. Over the last year, the number of cattle in household farms decreased by 436 thousand head (-35%), and the number of cows decreased by 220 thousand head (-29%).
According to preliminary data from the State Statistics Service, growth in the number of cow populations was recorded at agricultural enterprises in 12 regions, namely in Rivne region (+21%), Lviv region (+20%), Ternopil region (+15%), Kharkiv region (+15%), Zhytomyr region (+8%), Khmelnytskyi region (+7%), Vinnytsia region (+4%), Kyiv region (+4%), Mykolaiv region (+4%), Cherkasy region (+4%), Chernihiv region (+4%), and Volyn region (+2%) relative to July 1 of last year.
The cow population is decreasing mainly in the household sector, but is at a relatively stable level in the industrial sector. The reduction of the cattle herd is a long-standing problem in Ukraine due to the lack of an effective state program to support dairy cattle farming. Since 2014, the cow population in the industrial and household sectors of Ukraine has decreased almost threefold. The situation was worsened by russia's full-scale invasion and unfavorable market conditions.
Agricultural enterprises in the east and south of the country are forced to relocate cows to safer regions of Central and Western Ukraine due to the threat of Russian strikes. The herd recovery process is held back by rising production costs for farmers as a result of higher prices for fertilizers, energy resources, growing transportation costs, as well as the need to comply with EU environmental and phytosanitary requirements. At the same time, the price for raw milk in Ukraine is lower than the cost of production.
If by 2035 the modernization of dairy processing enterprises for deeper milk processing is not carried out in Ukraine and they do not start buying milk at higher prices, then small and medium-sized farms, where about 40% of the total herd is currently kept, may disappear from the market. Under conditions of low procurement prices, they are among the least protected market participants.
Low prices for raw milk and rising production costs encourage farmers to sell livestock while beef prices are high on export markets. Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has increased live cattle export volumes by 11.5%.
In the regional breakdown, about 52% of cows in the industrial sector are kept at commercial dairy farms in the following regions: Poltava region – 52.80 thousand head; Cherkasy region – 46.00 thousand head; Chernihiv region – 38.80 thousand head; Kyiv region – 35.60 thousand head; Vinnytsia region – 33.00 thousand head.