Ukraine's sheep and goat population decreased by 16.1% in October 2026

In October 2026, Ukraine recorded a significant decrease in the number of sheep and goats. According to official statistics, as of October 1, the country housed 771.8 thousand head of small ruminants, representing a 16.1% decline compared to the corresponding date of the previous year. This reduction amounts to approximately 148 thousand head, highlighting ongoing shifts within the national livestock sector.

The primary drop occurred in household farms, where owners keep about 84.7% of all sheep and goats in the country. Within this private sector, the livestock population dropped to 653.4 thousand head, marking an 18.7% decrease from the previous year. This trend indicates a continuous reduction in the role of smallholders in traditional sheep and goat farming.

Conversely, organized agricultural enterprises managed to slightly increase their small ruminant numbers. In the industrial sector, the population grew to 118.4 thousand head, showing a 1.1% growth rate. The industrial sector's share currently accounts for 15.3% of the total sheep and goat population in Ukraine.

Experts note that the divergence between these sectors highlights structural changes within sheep and goat breeding: the private sector is contracting, while professional agricultural enterprises are gradually increasing their market share and institutional presence in the industry.

Over the last month alone, spanning from September to October 2026, the total number of sheep and goats in the country decreased by nearly 25 thousand head. While at the beginning of September the population stood at 796.7 thousand, by October 1 it fell to 771.8 thousand head, registering a monthly drop of 3.1%. Specifically, household farms saw their numbers decline from 677.7 to 653.4 thousand, while agricultural enterprises dropped from 119 to 118.4 thousand head.