THE SIGNIFICANCE AND ROLE OF LIVESTOCK BREEDING AS PART OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN PELAGONIA REGION

Livestock breedeing is one of the most important economic sectors in our country, directly influencing the overall progress of the agricultural sector. Its continuous development significantly impacts economic stability, food supply, rural development, and societal well-being. In the research, the objectives are clearly defined to provide a comprehensive description and classification of the conditions, current status, and possibilities for the development of livestock production. The main goal of the research is to identify the components of the reproduction process in the agricultural and food industry and their influence on macroeconomic movements. Various scientific methods were used in the preparation of the thesis, including analytical, synthetic, inductive, deductive, descriptive, and statistical methods. The most relevant conclusions obtained through the analysis of the results from the "Questionnaire" encompass aspects such as identifying agriculture as a primary source of income for many farmers, particularly in crop farming and livestock husbandry. Additionally, challenges like a lack of workforce, delayed subsidy payments, and issues with water supply for livestock hydration are identified. The significance of a strategy to protect clean water is emphasized as a response to the water scarcity challenge. The future of the agricultural sector depends on factors such as product placement, subsidies, timely payment for finished products, and ensuring the workforce, highlighting them as key aspects for the sector's future development. The research provides significant data contributing to the improvement of the current state in livestock farming, both in the Pelagonian region and in our country.