Regulation of the agricultural market amid food security challenges in the context of enhancing the competitiveness of ukraine’s dairy cattle sector

<jats:p>The article substantiates directions for regulating the agricultural market amid food-related challenges to enhance the competitiveness of Ukraine’s dairy cattle sector. The dairy cattle industry is an important component of the agricultural market, and its performance directly affects the stability of the domestic milk supply, the utilization of dairy processing capacity, the economic sustainability of agricultural producers, and national food security. The study examines the current trends in the development of dairy cattle farming in Ukraine, with particular attention to the decline in cattle numbers, changes in the composition of milk production by producer category, the increasing concentration of market-oriented production in agricultural enterprises, and the growing importance of technological modernization. The distinction between the competitiveness of dairy products and the competitiveness of dairy cattle farming as a branch of agricultural production is specified. The latter is interpreted through the ability of producers to ensure economically viable production, efficient use of available resources, technological development, compliance with milk quality and safety requirements, and stable market positioning. The production and technological, economic, and market components of competitiveness are identified, and the principal criteria that determine their formation are systematized. Particular emphasis is placed on animal productivity, technological modernization of farms, feed efficiency, production costs, resource efficiency, product quality, market access, and export opportunities. It is established that strengthening the competitive position of Ukrainian dairy cattle farming requires the coordinated application of regulatory instruments that simultaneously address production constraints, investment shortages, technological gaps, and changing market requirements. Priority areas include modernization of production facilities, improvement of animal productivity, reduction of unit production costs, more efficient use of material and energy resources, improvement of milk quality and safety, development of processing and marketing channels, and expansion of export opportunities. The necessity of combining state support with investment and credit instruments, incentives for technological renewal, and measures to adapt dairy production to European Union requirements is substantiated. Such an approach to agricultural market regulation will contribute to increasing the economic efficiency and investment attractiveness of dairy cattle farming, strengthening the market position of domestic producers, stabilizing the supply of high-quality milk for processing, and enhancing Ukraine’s food security under current and long-term food-related challenges. Keywords: regulation, agricultural market, food-related challenges, agricultural sector, European integration, dairy cattle farming, state support, industry, competitiveness, export potential, demand, policy instruments, digitalization, food security.</jats:p>