AZE.US
Azerbaijan’s livestock sector is coming under mounting pressure as farmers struggle with shrinking pastureland, rising feed costs and weakening profitability.
What was once a stable part of rural life is increasingly turning into a difficult business to sustain. Farmers say the economics are becoming harder each year, and consumers are feeling the impact through higher meat prices.
One farmer in the Aghjabadi district says the biggest problem is the lack of grazing land. In some areas, too many animals are being kept on too little land, while rent for available plots has climbed to around 1,000 to 1,500 manats depending on location and water access.
That problem quickly spills into feed costs. When animals cannot graze properly, farmers have to buy more barley, hay and other feed. Those extra costs eat into already thin margins and make small and mid-sized livestock operations increasingly difficult to maintain.
The pressure is no longer limited to individual farms. Experts cited in the report warn that the sector is facing a broader structural risk. One of the main reasons is the steady reduction of pasture areas, with some land having been converted to crop production over the years.
Specialists say not all of those land-use changes have paid off. In many cases, they argue, the shift away from pasture has not delivered the expected agricultural return, while poor management and uneven oversight have made the situation worse. Some farmers are forced to keep large herds on inadequate land, accelerating the deterioration of grazing areas.
That in turn raises production costs. When livestock must be kept in semi-closed feeding conditions instead of grazing naturally, the cost of producing meat and milk rises. Experts also warn that when farmers cannot make enough income, they may start sending future breeding stock to slaughter, which creates longer-term risks for herd numbers and domestic production.
The effect is already visible in prices. Meat that once sold for around 8 to 9 manats per kilogram is now reaching 20 to 21 manats in some cases. Analysts say the problem is not just demand. Azerbaijani consumers still prefer locally produced meat, but local supply is becoming tighter, adding more upward pressure to prices.
Official data points to the same trend. Over the past year, the number of cattle in the country fell by more than 30,000 head, while the number of sheep and goats declined by nearly 139,000. At the same time, imports have increased. In January 2026 alone, Azerbaijan imported 7,646 head of cattle and 24,812 small ruminants, more than double the level of the same month a year earlier.
The Agriculture Ministry has also acknowledged the problem. Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov has linked the decline in herd numbers to the reduction of pastureland and the conversion of some areas into crop fields.
Officials say the government is trying to respond with new support mechanisms, including subsidies and discounts for pedigree livestock, new farms and equipment. The broader goal is to expand more intensive farming, improve productivity and reduce reliance on imports.
For now, though, the immediate reality is much harsher for many farmers: less pasture, higher costs and lower returns. And that means the crisis in livestock farming is no longer just a rural issue. It is increasingly becoming a food price issue as well.