KyivPost reports that the number of cows in the period fell by 1.3 per cent, to 2.6 million animals and pig numbers were down by 4.4 per cent, to 7.5 million animals.

The number of sheep and goats over the period grew by 0.3 per cent, to 2.13 million animals.

The State Statistics Service said that processing companies in the first quarter of 2012 obtained 356,100 tonnes of cattle and poultry, which was 1 per cent down year-over-year, as well as 957,800 tonnes of milk and diary products, a rise of 9 per cent year-over-year.

The share of private households of total purchase of cattle and poultry over the period fell from 7.3 per cent to 6.3 per cent, and that for milk – from 45 per cent to 37.9 per cent. Processing companies used 250,500 tonnes of own cattle and poultry (a fall of 1 per cent year-over-year) and 2,500 tonnes of own milk, a rise of 48 per cent.

As reported, the number of cattle in Ukraine as of 1 January 2012 was 4.47 million animals, which was 0.5 per cent down year-on-year. The number of cows in the period fell by 1.6 per cent, to 2.62 million animals, pig numbers were down by 6.1 per cent, to 7.47 million animals, while poultry numbers were down by 2.1 per cent, to 199.5 million birds. The number of sheep and goats over the period grew by 0.5 per cent, to 1.74 million animals.