Trends, problems and prospects of livestock sector development in the south of Russia

Using both the statistical data and the results of the All-Russian agricultural censuses of 2006 and 2016, the authors analyze the quantitative indices of livestock sector development in the three southern regions of Russia - the Republic of Kalmykia, the Astrakhan region and the Volgograd region. The livestock sector is presented by dairy and meat cattle breeding of domestic and foreign breeds, sheep breeding, pig-breeding, egg and broiler poultry farming. It is revealed that recession of cattle livestock in these regions is suspended, meat products base is being currently restored, and the number of farm animals in farms of various category (agricultural organizations, peasant farms, private farm households) has grown. The regional markets of meat production in the considered regions are dynamic since the volume of commodity resources of meat and meat production increases. Growth tendency in the meat cattle breeding is revealed: in Kalmykia - by 4,6 times; in the Astrakhan region - by 4,9 times; in the Volgograd region - by 73 times. According to the results of the 2006 census, there were not even a thousand animals in the Volgograd region, and in 2016 their number grew up to more than 65 thousand. The state support from budgets of all levels is very important for the growth in volumes of meat production. The livestock of farm animals grows in private farm households of the three southern regions, except for a livestock of pigs. The Volgograd region is characterized by the high concentration of population, that demands large volumes of livestock production at low cost-price. However, there are few private farms in the region, since they cannot compete with large-scale enterprises. The agricultural organizations in the Volgograd region are much more competitive as compared to those in the Republic of Kalmykia and in the Astrakhan region.