Within the framework of the article, it is proposed to analyze the current state of beef cattle breeding, taking into account the prospects for its development regarding the socio-economic and soil-climatic features of the four zones allocated on the territory of the Penza region: I. Vadinsko-Mokshanskaya natural-economic zone − unites agricultural producers of 12 administrative districts. On its territory, good and average soils are concen-trated. This zone is characterized by a high intensity of crop and livestock production (primarily poultry and dairy farming) with a concentration of large food processing enterprises. II. Belinsko-Serdobskaya natural-economic zone is located in the southern and southwestern part of the region and includes 7 administrative dis-tricts. The soils of this zone are characterized by the highest bonitet in the region, the category of arable land in terms of productivity is good and the best. This zone is characterized by the highest intensity of development of the crop production industry. III. Nikolsko-Gorodishchenskaya natural-economic zone - covers the northeastern part of the region, unites three administrative districts. In the districts of this natural-economic zone, the limiting factors for the development of agricultural production are the low fertility of most of the soils (gray and light gray forest soils) and the lack of thermal resources. IV. Kuznetsko-Lopatinskaya includes 5 administrative districts located in the southeastern and eastern parts of the region. In this natural-economic zone, the category of arable land in terms of productivity is average, but the score of arable land is lower than in most areas of zones I and II. Spring dry winds and droughts are most often observed in this zone.