Livestock Sectors in the Economies of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union: Transition from Plan to Market and the Road Ahead

by Britta Bjornlund, Nancy Cochrane, Mildred Haley, Roger Hoskin, Olga Liefert, and Philip L. Paarlberg

The report examines the restructuring of the livestock sectors in five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. All five countries experienced a decline in both animal inventories and meat output during the early years of transition away from a centrally planned economy. The study identifies potential trade and investment opportunities, but emphasizes that this potential depends on the successful implementation of institutional and policy reforms.

Keywords: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Eastern Europe, Former Soviet Union, livestock sector, policy reform, transition economies, trade, investment, land markets, credit, marketing costs, labor, employment

In this publication...

• Entire Report
• Abstract
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Reform Shocks to the Livestock Sector
• Response at Primary Production Level
• Downstream Sector
• What are the Keys to Successful Restructuring?
• Modeling Livestock/Poultry Production and Processing in Transition Economies
• Scenario I: Romania: What is the Impact of Partial Removal of Subsidies?
• Scenario II: What are the Benefits of Lowering the Barriers to Capital Flows?
• Scenario III: Can the Reduction of Marketing Costs Boost Livestock Output?
• Scenario IV: How Will Better Functioning Land Markets Affect Animal Agriculture?
• Scenario V: Can Growth in Nonagricultural Sectors Stimulate the Exit of Labor From Agriculture?
• Conclusions
• References
• Appendix