Armenia leads in CIS by cattle number growth rate
29.03.2013,
17:47
In terms of livestock growth rate Armenia is the leading country among several former Soviet republics which make the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Ashot Hovhanisyan, head of the veterinary department of the agriculture ministry, told reporters today.
YEREVAN, March 29. / ARKA /. In terms of livestock growth rate Armenia is the leading country among several former Soviet republics which make the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Ashot Hovhanisyan, head of the veterinary department of the agriculture ministry, told reporters today.
"The past year was quite successful in terms of livestock farming. We saw a set of improvements which helped to significantly increase the volume of production. W also saw a sharp growth in the number of cattle," Hovhannisyan said
According to him, as of January 1, 2013 there were 661,000 cows and oxen in the country, by 60,000 more form in the previous year. The number of sheep and goats increased by 84,000 year-on-year to 675,000.
Hovhannisyan said the number of pigs saw the highest growth rate of 30 percent to 148,000. He said also production of meat produces in 2012 reached over 130,000 metric tons, up 3,000 tons from 2011. In 2012, Armenian farmers produced also 618,000 tons of milk, by 17,000 tons more than in the previous year. The country produced 685 million eggs, by 24 million more than in 2011.
In 20012, livestock products accounted for 41 percent of the country’s agricultural gross product, which was around 273 billion drams ($ 1-419.08 drams). -0-
