The total cattle production from January to March 2021 was estimated at 54.43 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This was -10.2 percent lower compared with the previous year’s same quarter output of 60.62 thousand metric tons, liveweight. (Figure 1)

Among the regions, Northern Mindanao was the highest producer of cattle during the quarter with a production of 10.62 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This was followed by Ilocos Region and Western Visayas with corresponding productions of 6.21 thousand metric tons, liveweight and 4.97 thousand metric tons, liveweight. These three regions shared 40.0 percent to the country’s total cattle production.

Relative to their levels in the same quarter in 2020, 10 regions posted decreases in production during the quarter. Zamboanga Peninsula exhibited the highest annual reduction of -56.6 percent, from 2.69 thousand metric tons, liveweight in the first quarter of 2020 to 1.17 thousand metric tons, liveweight in this quarter. 

As of 01 January 2021, the total cattle inventory was estimated at 2.63 million heads. This was 3.3 percent higher than the 2.54 million heads recorded in the same period of 2020.

In terms of inventory, Central Visayas recorded the highest cattle population with 311.70 thousand heads. This was followed by Ilocos Region with 296.28 thousand heads and CALABARZON with 266.53 thousand heads. These three regions accounted for 33.4 percent of the country’s total cattle population. (Figure 2)

The average farmgate price of cattle for slaughter during the quarter was quoted at PhP 141.38 per kilogram, liveweight. This was 12.4 percent higher than the average price of PhP 125.78 per kilogram, liveweight, in the same quarter of 2020. (Figure 3)

During the reference quarter, the highest farmgate price of cattle for slaughter was noted in March at PhP 144.56 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest was in January at PhP 139.08 per kilogram, liveweight. 

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

TECHNICAL NOTES

This Cattle Situation Report presents the cattle industry in terms of volume of production, inventory by region, and average farmgate price. The report is prepared to serve as a ready reference for PSA’s various clients and stakeholders in the agriculture sector. It is released quarterly; that is, every February, May, August, and November.

Concepts and Definitions

Volume of production refers to the volume of locally-raised cattle disposed for slaughter including those which were shipped out to other regions/provinces for slaughter. This is expressed in metric ton, liveweight.

Inventory refers to the actual number of cattle present in the farm as of a specific reference date. For this report, the inventory of cattle is as of 01 January 2021 since the surveys for this commodity are conducted semi-annually, i.e., January and July.

Farmgate price refers to the price received by raisers for their produce at the location of farm. Thus, the marketing costs, such as the transport and other marketing cost (if any) incurred in selling the produce, are not included in the farmgate prices. The 2019 to 2021 farmgate prices included in this special release were based on the revised method of computation by the Price Statistics Division (PSD).

^p - Preliminary
^r - Revised