Comparative study on the sustainability of cattle products in the North-East cross-border region of Romania

Abstract

In this paper, the sustainability of cattle production in the crossborder region of North-East Romania and the Odessa region, Ukraine was pursued. The working methods used in this research were: observation, information systematization, mathematical-statistical method, and scientific explanation. The average milk production on lactation and on the breeds in Romania varied as follows: Transylvanian Pinzgau breed (PT) – 4118–4724 kg milk, Brună breed (B.) – 3543–5211 kg milk, Bălțată Românească breed (BR) – 2833–5519 Kg milk, and Bățlată cu Negru Românească breed (BNR) – 4.322–6.332 kg milk. Regarding the meat production, in 2016 it was 206 thousand tons live weight at slaughter, which increased by 6 thousand tons compared to 2015 when meat production was 200 thousand tons live weight at slaughter. The average milk production per cow in the Odessa region was 3.577 kg in 2014, down 262.0 kg compared to 2013, and by breed it was as follows: Red Ukrainian- 4.215 kg, Black Ukrainian spotted 4.665 kg, and Red Steppe with 3.394 kg milk. Also, meat production in 2014 was 32.203 kg, and in 2013 – 35.233 kg, with 3.030 kg less or 8.6 %. In the cross-border area of Romania as well as in the cross-border area of Ukraine in the analyzed farms, with large or family-type farms, the allowance of production factors is under necessity, the current conditions, especially financial, allowing only the use of certain production factors (breed, feed). If in Romania, the European funding contributes to achieving the sustainability of cattle production, in Ukraine, farmers face major deficiencies. Key words: cattle, production, milk, meat, sustainability, crossborder.