The volume of cattle production from April to June 2023 was recorded at 60.95 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an annual decline of -1.0 percent relative to its level in the same quarter of the previous year of 61.54 thousand metric tons, liveweight. (Figure 1)

Northern Mindanao was the top producer of cattle with 9.56 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 15.7 percent share to the total cattle production during the reference quarter. Completing the top five regions with highest volume of cattle production at liveweight during the quarter were the following:     
a.    CALABARZON, 8.24 thousand metric tons;      
b.    Bicol Region, 6.28 thousand metric tons;     
c.    Ilocos Region, 5.76 thousand metric tons; and     
d.    Central Visayas, 5.23 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 57.5 percent share to the country’s total cattle production in the second quarter of 2023.

In comparison to their levels in the same quarter of 2022, 10 regions posted decreases in production during the quarter. In terms of level, Ilocos Region posted the highest decrease of 0.76 thousand metric tons, from 6.52 thousand metric tons in the second quarter of 2022 to 5.76 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of 2023. 

As of 30 June 2023, the total cattle inventory reached 2.58 million heads. This indicates an increase of 0.1 percent from the previous year’s same period count of 2.57 million heads. About 81.4 percent of the country’s cattle population during the period came from smallhold farms, while the remaining 14.9 percent and 3.7 percent were comprised of semi-commercial farms and commercial farms, respectively. (Figure 2)

Central Visayas recorded the highest cattle population with 338.28 thousand heads. This was followed by CALABARZON and Ilocos Region with corresponding inventories of 244.01 thousand heads and 242.83 thousand heads. These regions shared 32.0 percent to the country’s total cattle population as of 30 June 2023.    
 

The average farmgate price of cattle for slaughter was quoted at PhP 166.61 per kilogram, liveweight during the quarter. This indicates a decrease of -0.6 percent from the previous year’s same quarter average farmgate price of PhP 167.53 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

In the second quarter of 2023, the highest average farmgate price was noted in May at PhP 167.39 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest average farmgate price was observed in April at PhP 165.66 per kilogram, liveweight. 

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD     
Assistant Secretary     
Deputy National Statistician      
Sectoral Statistics Office