Azerbaijan found itself on the brink of a meat crisis?

In recent years, Azerbaijan has been witnessing an alarming trend - the number of cattle and small ruminants is rapidly declining. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the main reason for this is the excessively high consumption of meat, especially lamb, among the population.

"Animals are being slaughtered for meat before reaching their full weight. People prefer to consume lamb, which prevents the increase in livestock numbers. Due to population growth over the years and increased demand for meat, the number of animals is not growing. Despite conducting educational activities on this matter, unfortunately, no positive results have been observed," the ministry explained.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of January 1, 2025, Azerbaijan had 6,850.2 thousand sheep and goats, 2,459.7 thousand cattle, including 1,223.1 thousand cows and buffaloes. The pig population was only 3,103 heads. Compared to the previous year, the number of small and large livestock, as well as pigs in the country, has decreased.

Against the background of declining livestock numbers in Azerbaijan, meat prices continue to rise. Currently, beef is being sold at 15-16 manats per kilogram, while lamb prices range from 20 to 24 manats.

Source: Modern.az