Russia increases livestock capacity in 2005

Russia's State Statistics Committee reports that additional capacity for the raising of 8,900 head of cattle was added in Russia's livestock industry in 2005, according to the Interfax news agency. In comparison, additional capacity for the raising of 38,500 head of cattle was added in 2004. Russia's Agriculture Ministry says that it has recently considered 3,737 new projects in Russia's livestock industry. A total of 392 projects were approved and will be supported with eight-year loans with preferential interest rates. There were an estimated 21.4 million head of cattle on farms, and kept by households, in Russia as of January 1 this year. This figure was 6.1% lower than on the same date in 2005. Cattle kept by households accounted for 44.5% of cattle in Russia at the start of this year.