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The goal of this study is the analysis of the dynamics of milk production, yield and dairy cows in Romania in the period 2013-2022. The empirical data were provided by National Institute of Statistics and were processed using the fixed basis index, and concentration method based on Herfindahl-Hirschman index, graphical representation of the regression equations and R square. The results confirmed the general declining trend in milk production which reached 35,300 thousand hl in 2022, being by 9.1% smaller than in 2013. The bovine livestock also decline and the number of dairy cows decreased, in 2022 accounting for 1,075.6 thousands heads by 9.2% smaller than in 2013. Milk yield in Romania also declined in the analyzed interval by 7.6% from 3,643.8 kg in 2013 to 3,367 kg per cow in 2022. Milk yield in Romania is the smallest in the EU-27, being twice lower than the EU mean accounting for 7,653 kg/cow. The factors which led o such a critical situation in dairy farming have been: the non corresponding farm structure, where 80% are small farms raising 1-2 cows, 13% have 2-5 cows and just 0.32% of farms raise over 50 cows. Also, during the last years, climate change in terms of low precipitations and long and severe drought affected forage production. Farm inputs price increased by 70% which led to high production costs that the low milk price of Lei 1.4-1.8 imposed by milk processors could not covered. The degree of concentration of milk production and of the number of dairy cows in Romania is enough small, ranging between 015-0.20 reflecting a moderate concentration. The subsidies per animal and milk were not enough to save the situation, and in consequence, a part of farms failed and other farms sold their animals to slaughterhouses. To avoid milk imports which have significantly raised during the years 2021-2022, the breeders have to be sustained by consistent subsidies to help their cows to produce more milk as dairy cows farming is in the most critical situation as never before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to analyze the main trends in goat livestock and milk, meat, cheese and butter production at the world level during the last 30 years, more exactly since 1990 till present. The data collected from Faostat have been processed using fixed basis index, regression equations and coefficient of determination. The results proved that goats are important in the agriculture of many countries. They play a more and more important role in food security and safety, milk, meat, cheese, butter, yoghourt being called to complete dairy products offer and satisfy better consumers' demand. In 2019, the goat livestock reached the peak of the last three decades, accounting for 1,093.7 million heads, milk production was 19.91 million tonnes, meat production 6.25 million tonnes, cheese production 564 thousand tonnes and 7,427 tonnes butter. The highest number of goats is in Asia (54%) and Africa (38%), the highest meat production is also in Asia (73%) and Africa (23%), and the largest milk production is obtained also in Asia (54%), Africa (25%) and Europe (15%). Cheese production has the highest level in Africa (44%), followed by Europe (38%) and Asia (13.6%). Goat breeders are encouraged to continue their business raising goats due to the higher and higher demand for the goat products. The great challenges for goat producers are market fluctuations, price volatility, climate change which could affect forage resources. In this respect, goat breeders associations will play an important role in supporting the farmers with technical services and effective policies to sustain them to benefit from the demand growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]