MECHANISMS FOR ENHANCING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTION IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article proposes approaches which indicate that, under the given conditions, the competitiveness of dairy cattle production in Ukraine is shaped by multifactorial determinants, among which the most significant are the efficiency of resource utilization, the quality and compliance of products with international standards, the market activity of enterprises, and their capacity for innovative development. The suggested integrated approach to competitiveness assessment makes it possible to combine economic, technological, qualitative, and institutional indicators into a single measurement system. The use of an index model allows not only for identifying the current level of enterprise competitiveness but also for outlining priority directions for improving their performance. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of financial stimulation instruments, including production subsidies, programs for compensating the cost of purchased equipment, preferential crediting, and subsidized insurance of agricultural risks. It is demonstrated that the development of agricultural market infrastructure—encompassing logistics, cooling systems, and facilities for storing dairy products—constitutes a fundamental factor directly influencing product quality and competitiveness. It is substantiated that modern dairy cattle farming represents a leading branch of the agricultural sector, ensuring food security, generating a substantial share of livestock output, and accounting for a notable proportion of agri-food exports. At the same time, ongoing economic transformations, the globalization of food markets, and intensified competition in both domestic and foreign markets highlight rising demands for quality, production efficiency, and innovative development of the sector. The article proposes approaches to the systematic study of mechanisms for enhancing the competitiveness of dairy cattle production in Ukraine, which take into account economic, managerial, institutional, and innovation-related factors. Within the research process, indicators for the integrated competitiveness index of dairy production are identified, along with proposed weighting and normalization methods. To assess the competitiveness of dairy production, the application of an integral index is suggested, incorporating production, quality, and market efficiency indicators. It is also emphasized that the sector’s competitiveness depends on the degree of cooperation among producers, their ability to pool resources to reduce costs, and to strengthen positions in both domestic and international agri-food markets.