1,783 | 1,452 | 1,255 | 1,279 | 1,379
(Cows) | (703) | (547) | (574) | (589) | (607)
Hogs | 1,078 | 2,553 | 1,967 | 2,369 | 2,806
Sheep | 9,266 | 9,333 | 9,223 | 9,678 | 10,127
Goats | 720 | 246 | 350 | 335 | 318
Rabbits | 128 | 470 | 164 | 277 | 350
Poultry | 11,380 | 23,366 | 29,590 | 33,706 | 34,102
----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
* Figure for 1948 as of December 25; for all other years, January 1.
Source: Adapted from _Statistical Yearbook, 1971_, Sofia, 1971, p. 124;
and _Statistical Yearbook, 1972_, Sofia, 1972, p. 236.

Although agriculture is almost entirely socialized, substantial numbers
of livestock are nevertheless privately owned by farm and urban workers,
artisans, and the few remaining individual farmers. In 1971 these groups
possessed virtually all the goats and rabbits, more than half the
poultry, and about two-fifths of the sheep. They also owned 27 percent
of the hogs and 22 percent of the cattle, including 30 percent of the
cows. On socialized farms all types of livestock were reduced in numbers
during the 1961-70 period except for cows and poultry. Among private
owners the decline in the numbers of cattle and hogs was more
pronounced, but substantial gains were made in the stock of sheep,
goats, and poultry. Government policies concerning prices, incentives,
and feed allocation were mainly responsible for the differences in
development within the socialized and private sectors.

Expansion of livestock herds and production has been hampered by an
inadequate feed supply. The feed shortage in the 1966-70 period was
estimated by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to have approximated 30
percent. Domestically produced feed concentrates have been of poor
quality and nutritionally unbalanced. In 1972 more than 45 percent of
the mixed feeds and concentrates were substandard, and requirements for
these feeds were met by less than 55 percent.

The production of feed crops increased in absolute terms during the
1960-70 period, but its rate of growth lagged by comparison with other
crops and with official plans. In 1971 and 1972 the alfalfa acreage was
supposed to be 990,000 acres, but only 840,000 acres were actually
cropped. In 1972 only 57 percent of the requirements for alfalfa and
meadow hay were met on farms of the agroindustrial complexes, and the
quality of the hay