Factors of transformation of the dairy subcomplex of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine

Abstract

One of the main ways to overcome the existing problem of providing the country’s population with proteins of animal origin is, among other things, to increase the production and consumption of milk and dairy products. Based on this, consideration of the existing problems of the functioning of the dairy subcomplex of the agro-industrial complex of the country is extremely relevant. The purpose of the study is to assess the current state of the subcomplex and to develop practical recommendations for improving the efficiency of its functioning. The research was based on the application of methods: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, factor and economic and statistical comparative analysis, analytical and logical generalisations, etc. In contrast to the existing positive trend of growth in milk production in the world, in dairy farming in Ukraine, there is a constant reduction in the number of cows and milk production. Over the past 10 years alone, the number of cattle in the country has decreased by 1.952 million heads, including cows by 0.958 million heads, and milk production in 2020 amounted to 9.263 million tons of milk (17.64% less than in 2010). There was a reduction in the number of milk processing enterprises. Thus, in 2020, there were only 192 of them left (of which 178 worked) or only 29.86% of their number in 1990. All this resulted in the fact that the actual consumption of milk per capita in 2020 was only 53.13% of the scientifically based standards of consumption of milk and dairy products. According to the results of the research, it was established that the decrease in the number of cows, without considering the growth of their productivity in farms of all categories, reduced the production of dairy raw materials. The results of the research allow identifying the main factors that affect the reduction in the production of milk and its derivatives. After analysing the state and trends in the development of dairy farming, it can be argued that the increase in the production of quality and safe milk and its supply for processing requires the cooperation of farms and households. Together, they can ensure the stability of production of the necessary volumes of milk, appropriate quality and safety and ensure the supply of significant volumes of raw materials to large processors. Possible areas and innovative technologies of animal husbandry and milk production and processing require further research