Macromodelling of food and raw material links between large-scale specialized zones for the development of animal husbandry

One of the ways to improve the efficiency of production is the deepening of specialization and the development of interregional relations. The problems of rational specialization and optimal commodity flows have been troubling the scientific economists over the past two centuries. It is especially important to address the issues of territorial and sectoral division of labor for industries whose production efficiency differs significantly in different regions and is suitable for transportation. The article describes the methodological approaches to the improvement of interregional raw materials and food links in animal husbandry based on the formation of large-scale specialized commodity zones on the example of the Russian Federation. The first task of the study was to identify several large-value zones of specialization in the production of livestock products. As a result of solving the second task, two goals were achieved at the same time: (a) optimization of cattle breeding and (b) the interregional exchange of feed and meat and dairy products. To achieve the goals, we used a combination of statistical and economic-mathematical methods, a combination of several models of optimal linear programming. As a result of the research, five areas of specialization were identified, depending on the level of livestock production and the availability of the natural and economic potential for the development of the subsector, the placement of livestock in those zones has been optimized. In addition, a scheme has been developed for the interregional food exchange and the development of commodity relations. The presented methodological approaches can be used to solve similar problems both at the international level (CIS, EAEU, etc.), and for smaller territorial units, such as federal districts or individual regions.