Socioeconomic assessment of animal husbandry placement and specialization in the Russian Federation

A.G. Churaev

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Abstract: The country’s dependence on imports for certain livestock products is due to insufficient milk and meat production. One of the reasons for the decline in livestock production is the decline in the cattle population.
Aim. This study is to provide proposals for achieving the country’s food security thresholds for livestock products.
Methods and materials. Statistical and monographic methods, as well as analytical and generalizing approaches, are used in the study. Based on statistical data and Rosstat materials, the distribution of beef production and key meat products across the federal districts of the Russian Federation is shown. Analysis of the obtained data allowed us to draw conclusions about the main trends in the development of livestock farming in the country. A review of official bodies and scientific publications on the rational distribution and specialization of livestock farming highlighted the relevance of the study providing identification optimal conditions for organizing production.
Results. Over the past ten years, the dynamics of cattle production in livestock farming have changed significantly. The number of regions with livestock populations exceeding 500 head has significantly decreased. Their concentration has decreased in regions with livestock populations of 200,000 and 300,000 head. In total, approximately 60 regions have reduced their cattle populations. At the same time, regions with the least favorable conditions for effective dairy farming have increased their cow populations. These include Dagestan, Bashkortostan, and Kalmykia–areas with significant potential for beef cattle development. Therefore, an assessment of the current state of livestock farming in the country is necessary, which should be used to develop a subsector aimed at maximizing the benefits of both individual regions and the country as a whole, the efficient use of production resources and the biological potential of the territories, dynamic production growth, improved production efficiency and competitiveness, and the country’s food security.
Conclusions. Currently, the main production of beef is concentrated in the Central, Southern, Volga, and Siberian Federal Districts. In the future, given the current natural and economic conditions, it would be prudent to focus beef production growth in these regions.

Keywords: rational organization, import dependence, cattle breeding, production, specialized breeds, commodity producers, optimization, optimal placement, dairy and meat market, forage lands, production capacitys

For citation. Churaev A.G. Socioeconomic assessment of animal husbandry placement and specialization in the Russian Federation. News of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of RAS. 2026. Vol. 28. No. 1. Pp. 252–265. DOI: 10.35330/1991-6639-2026-28-1-252-265

©   Churaev A.G., 2026

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Information about the author

Abdurakhman G. Churaev, Applicant for a Degree Candidate Sciences, Dagestan State Agrarian University named after M.M. Dzhambulatov;
180, Magomet Gadzhiev street, Makhachkala, 367032, Russia;
churaev64@mail.ru, SPIN-code: 3067-0184

Funding

The study was performed without external funding.