Sheep farming in Ukraine: reduction in livestock numbers and new state support measures

Sheep farming in Ukraine, which demonstrated positive dynamics during the war period, is now facing serious challenges—there is a significant reduction in the number of sheep. Deputy Minister of Economy, Ecology, and Agriculture Taras Vysotskyi reported that as of the beginning of 2026, the country has about 760 thousand head, which is more than 13% less than the previous year. This is reported by AgroReview State of the industry and export prospects According to the official, the economic situation in the sheep farming sector remains difficult. The production of both meat and wool is unprofitable, however, the state continues to focus on developing export potential. Currently, the volume of exports of live sheep and mutton is about $2–2.2 million USD per year. The main foreign markets remain the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, in particular the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, and Libya. “Today, the export of live sheep and mutton amounts to about $2–2.2 ...