Carabao production from April to June 2022 was recorded at 33.57 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an annual decline of -3.9 percent relative to its last year’s level of 34.93 thousand metric tons, liveweight.

Western Visayas was the top producer of carabao during the quarter with 4.27 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 12.7 percent share.

Completing the top five (5) major producing regions and their corresponding volume of production were:

1. Davao Region with 3.31 thousand metric tons, liveweight;
2. Northern Mindanao with 3.07 thousand metric tons, liveweight;
3. Eastern Visayas with 2.63 thousand metric tons, liveweight; and
4. CALABARZON with 2.60 thousand metric tons, liveweight.

These regions accounted for 47.2 percent of the country’s total carabao production.

In comparison to their levels in the same quarter of 2021, 11 regions exhibited declines in production during the quarter. MIMAROPA Region posted the biggest annual decrease of -42.7 percent from 2.15 thousand metric tons, liveweight in the same quarter last year to 1.23 thousand metric tons, liveweight this quarter.

As of 30 June 2022, the total carabao inventory reached 2.74 million heads. This was -3.7 percent lower than the previous year’s same period count of 2.85 million heads. Carabao population in both backyard farms and commercial farms diminished by -3.5 percent and -50.0 percent, respectively. Of the total carabao population, 99.8 percent were raised in backyard farms, while the remaining 0.2 percent were from commercial farms. (Figure 2)

In terms of carabao inventory, the top regions were Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Central Luzon with a combined share of 30.4 percent to the total carabao population.

The average farmgate price of carabao upgraded for slaughter was Php 163.72 per kilogram, liveweight for this quarter. This was 30.6 percent higher than the previous year’s same period average farmgate price of Php 125.37 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

During the quarter, the highest farmgate price was observed in June at PhP 166.31 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest was quoted in April at PhP 160.18 per kilogram, liveweight.

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General 

EXPLANATORY NOTES

This Carabao Situation Report presents the carabao industry in terms of volume of production, inventory by region, and average farmgate prices. The report is prepared to serve as a ready reference for the various clients and stakeholders in the agriculture sector of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It is released quarterly, that is, every February, May, August, and November.

Concepts and Definitions

Volume of production refers to the number of tended/raised carabao disposed for slaughter including animals shipped-out for slaughter. This is expressed in metric tons, liveweight.

Inventory refers to the actual number of carabao present in the farm as of a specific reference date.

Farmgate price refers to the price received by raisers for their produce at the location of farm. Thus, marketing costs, such as transport and other marketing costs (if any) incurred in selling the produce, are not included in the farmgate prices. The 2020 to 2021 farmgate prices included in this special release were sourced from Price Statistics Division (PSD), while the 2022 farmgate prices were based on the surveys of Livestock and Poultry Statistics Division (LPSD).