The volume of cattle production from July to September 2023 was recorded at 51.82 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an annual decline of 1.5 percent from the same quarter of the previous year level of 52.61 thousand metric tons, liveweight. (Figure 1)

Northern Mindanao was the top producer of cattle with 8.26 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 15.9 percent share to the total cattle production during the reference quarter. Completing the top five regions with the highest volume of cattle production at liveweight during the quarter were the following:

a.    Central Visayas, 5.89 thousand metric tons;   
b.    Ilocos Region, 5.02 thousand metric tons;  
c.    Western Visayas, 4.41 thousand metric tons; and  
d.    SOCCSKSARGEN, 3.70 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 52.6 percent of the country’s total cattle production in the third quarter of 2023.

In comparison to their levels in the third quarter of 2022, 11 regions posted decreases in production during the quarter. In terms of level, Central Luzon posted the highest decrease of 0.33 thousand metric tons, from 3.42 thousand metric tons in the third quarter of 2022 to 3.09 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of 2023. 

As of 30 September 2023, the total cattle inventory reached 2.59 million heads. This indicates an increase of 0.4 percent from the previous year’s same period count of 2.58 million heads. About 82.3 percent of the country’s cattle population during the period came from smallhold farms, while the remaining 14.3 percent and 3.4 percent were comprised of semi-commercial farms and commercial farms, respectively. (Figure 2)

Central Visayas recorded the highest cattle population with 344.05 thousand heads. This was followed by CALABARZON and Ilocos Region with corresponding inventories of 248.04 thousand heads and 240.29 thousand heads. These three regions shared 32.2 percent to the country’s total cattle population as of 30 September 2023. (Figure 3)

The average farmgate price of cattle for slaughter was quoted at PhP 172.33 per kilogram, liveweight during the quarter. This indicates a decrease of 0.3 percent from the previous year’s same quarter average farmgate price of PhP 172.80 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

In the third quarter of 2023, the highest average farmgate price was noted in August at PhP 174.58 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest average farmgate price was observed in July at PhP 168.13 per kilogram, liveweight.

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