Milk Production Rises, Productivity Falls: What's Happening in Kazakhstan's Livestock Industry
According to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as of January 1, 2026, the cattle population in the country reached 8.2 million heads, increasing by 3.2% over the year.
Growth was also recorded for other types of animals:
- sheep and goats — 20.6 million heads (+2.2%),
- horses — 4.6 million (+6.7%),
- camels — 292 thousand (+4.1%),
- pigs — 484 thousand (+1.0%),
- poultry — 49.1 million (+7.6%).
The production volume also shows positive dynamics:
- meat (slaughter weight) — 1.2 million tons (+2.7%),
- milk — 3.8 million tons (+4.8%),
- eggs — 4.58 billion pieces (+2.4%).
A decrease was recorded only in wool — down to 36.1 thousand tons (-0.5%).
Despite the overall growth, the average milk yield per cow decreased to 2,506 kg compared to 2,524 kg the previous year. However, in agricultural enterprises, this figure remains significantly higher at 5,825 kg.
The production structure retains its characteristics:
- about 60% of milk is produced in household farms,
- poultry meat and egg production is concentrated mainly in agricultural enterprises.
The average live weight of sold cattle was 343 kg.
In 2025, agricultural enterprises consumed 54.5 million quintals of feed units, with more than 25.8 million allocated for cattle.
The cattle mortality rate was 15,946 heads, indicating ongoing risks for the industry.
