ROLE OF DAIRY AND BEEF CATTLE BREEDING IN FOOD SECURITY GOVERNANCE IN RUSSIA

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state and long-term development trends of the key livestock subsectors in Russia (dairy and beef cattle breeding), which constitute the foundation of the country`s food security. The study identifies and examines the most pressing challenges facing the sector, including the long-term decline in the dairy herd, reduced reproduction rates, technological backwardness of certain production systems, and the growing dependence on imported genetic material, all of which collectively pose risks to the stability of the national agro-industrial complex. The research was carried out at Russian scientific institutions, which were engaged in monitoring the state of livestock production and national genetic resources; official data from the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), breeding annual reports, industry reviews, and long-term monitoring materials were used. The methodological approach involved comparative, structural, and dynamic analyses, which made it possible to objectively assess changes in herd size, productivity levels, production and consumption volumes, as well as to determine the degree of compliance of actual indicators with the target indicators of the Food Security Doctrine. The results show that current productivity growth rates do not compensate for the continuing reduction in cattle numbers, creating a risk of insufficient milk production and increasing the sector’s dependence on external supplies of raw materials. It was established that the risks of losing national genetic resources require the implementation of a comprehensive state policy aimed at developing a domestic breeding and genetic base, modernizing technological processes, increasing herd size, and ensuring, in particular, the preservation of unique native breeds as a strategic resource of the food sovereignty of the Russian Federation.