FEATURES OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT IN BURYATIA

Abstract

The Republic of Buryatia occupies 5.0% of the territory of the Far Eastern Federal District. The population of the republic is 984.5 thousand people, which is 0.7% of the population of Russia and 12.0% of the population of the Far Eastern Federal District. Buryatia is a traditionally livestock republic. Thus, in 1926, the number of farm animals in the republic was 2.082 million heads, in 1928 - 3.067 million heads, of which the share of small cattle was 43.3 and 48.3%, cattle - 38.8 and 35.3%, respectively. In 2021, 100 organizations were engaged in agricultural activities in Buryatia, 706 peasant farms and 82,731 personal household plots operated. Among the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District, Buryatia accounts for: peasant farms - 11.4%, private subsidiary farms - 11.7%, arable land - 5.6%, hayfields - 7.0%, pastures - 10.2%. Currently, the total number of farm animals is 856 thousand heads, of which the share of cattle is 40%, sheep and goats - 35%, pigs - 19%, horses - 6%. Livestock farming in the republic is developing at a slow pace, and the herd structure has remained virtually unchanged for several years. The reduction in livestock observed in 2018-2020 was stopped, the situation was stabilized and by now high-quality herd growth has been ensured, based on the development of breeding livestock. Breeding livestock is one of the priority areas, the number of breeding animals has currently grown to 43.2 thousand heads, which is 6.2% of the total livestock. Breeding animals of 10 breeds are bred in 6 breeding plants and 17 reproducers, including cattle of five breeds, sheep of two breeds, horses of two breeds and yaks of one breed. The main factors of intensification of livestock development are: creation of a solid forage base; use of intensive farming technologies that reduce labor intensity, capital intensity, energy intensity of the industry; reduction of prices for energy carriers, causing increase in profitability and reduction of cost price of livestock products.