Russia boosts agricultural production 4% in Q1 2012 - Rosstat
MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - Russian agricultural production totaled 350.1 billion rubles in the first quarter of 2012, 4% more year-on-year, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) reported on Wednesday.
In March alone, agricultural production was up 4.9% to 151.7 billion rubles.
Livestock and poultry production (for slaughter, in live weight) for Q1 grew 8.1% to 2.5 million tonnes. In March alone, it rose 8.2% to 0.9 million tonnes.
Milk output increased 4.5% to 6.5 million tonnes (4.2% to 2.4 million tonnes in March), and egg production grew 3.9% to 9.9 billion eggs (3.4% to 3.5 billion eggs in March).
According to Rosstat's calculations, at the end of March, head of cattle at all types of farms totaled 20.9 million, or 1.1% more year-on-year, including 9.1 million cows (up 2.2%). Hogs totaled 18.1 million (up 1.3%), and sheep and goats totaled 24.5 million (up 7.1%). Poultry numbers rose by 8.5% to 491.8 million animals.
Fodder provisions for livestock by the beginning of April were 39.8% higher than last year.