Russia Accelerates Cattle Culling: Milk Production Rises Amid Herd Reduction

As of early February 2026, the cattle herd in agricultural organizations amounted to 7.39 million heads, which is 0.6% less than the same period last year. The number of cows decreased by 0.8% to 2.99 million heads.

Even more significant declines were recorded in other livestock segments:

— Sheep and goats — a reduction of 6.9%, to 2.5 million heads
— Poultry — a reduction of 1.3%, to 478.9 million heads

The exception remains pig farming, where the herd increased by 3.1%, reaching 27.2 million heads.

Thus, the beginning of the year is accompanied by a further reduction in the raw material base of the industry, despite the slowing pace of decline in the cattle segment.

In January 2026, milk production in agricultural organizations amounted to 1.835 million tons, which is 3.6% more than a year earlier.

The key factor driving growth was an increase in animal productivity, which rose by 3%.

This trend confirms the ongoing technological transformation of the industry, where production growth is ensured not by increasing the herd but by improving efficiency.

The total production of livestock and poultry for slaughter in live weight amounted to 1.095 million tons, which is 0.8% below last year's level. The most significant drop was recorded in the beef segment: cattle production decreased by 6.3%. According to market participants, this is due to active herd culling in 2025 amid record-high prices.