Status and Development Prospects of Horse Breeding in the Altai Region

The transition to a market economy caused significant changes in the number of horses and their distribution by category of horse owners, regions, and economic use areas. This study aims to identify the natural and economic factors affecting the quantitative and structural features of the horse breeding industry in the Altai region. More than that, the research discusses critical parameters of its optimal development in the medium term. In 1991-2018, in Altai, the horse population decreased from 226.8 to 161.3 thousand heads (28.9%). However, due to higher decreases of horse livestock in other Russian regions, the share of Altai horse owners in the Siberian Federal District increased from 34.0 to 38.5%. The country-wide share increased from 8.7% to 12.6%. While the number of horses in the Altai Krai decreased 2.6 times, in the Altai Republic, it increased by 28.9 thousand heads, exceeding the pre-reform level by 38.3%. Until 2025, with the stabilization of the number of workhorses, meat horse breeding will be the central development area. The number of meat horses will increase in Altai from 112.6 to 126.8 thousand heads, which, with rational management, would ensure the production of over ten thousand tons of high-quality meat for domestic consumption and export.