Kazakhstan's livestock sector demonstrated steady expansion during January-March 2026, with production gains recorded across all major categories, data from the Bureau of National Statistics show. Meat output in live weight totaled 421,600 tons, representing a 3.4% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. When measured in slaughter weight, production reached 254,100 tons, up 3.6% year-on-year. The breakdown by livestock type showed poultry leading the market at 93,700 tons, followed closely by beef at 85,800 tons, indicating strong domestic supply in these key protein categories.
Dairy production followed a similar upward trajectory, with milk output rising to 652,700 tons, a 3.6% gain relative to the first quarter of 2025. However, egg production delivered the most striking performance among all tracked categories, surpassing 1.1 billion units to record a 9.5% year-on-year increase—the strongest growth rate in the sector. Productivity metrics at the farm level supported these volume gains, as average milk yield per cow reached 495 kilograms during the period, while average output per laying hen hit 60 eggs.
The animal inventory data as of April 1, 2026 reflected broad growth across most species categories. Cattle numbers climbed to just over 9.1 million head, a 2.9% expansion, while sheep flocks increased to over 21.1 million, representing a 2.3% gain. Horse populations grew the fastest among tracked species, reaching approximately 4.7 million head, up 7.1% year-on-year. Poultry was the sole exception to this positive trend, declining to 47.9 million birds—equaling 98.5% of the prior-year level. Despite the overall growth picture, the reporting period was not without setbacks: over 5,400 head of cattle and 12,000 pigs were reported lost during the quarter.
Feed reserves held by agricultural enterprises remained substantial as of the April 1 census date. Stocks included nearly 1 million tons of silage alongside haylage, hay, and concentrated feed supplies, providing a nutritional base for continued herd expansion. The combination of growing animal numbers, improving per-animal productivity, and adequate feed availability positions Kazakhstan's livestock sector for sustained output growth through the remainder of 2026, even as poultry inventories stabilize at below-prior-year levels.