The volume of dairy production from July to September 2023 was recorded at 6.83 thousand metric tons. This indicates an annual decline of 12.4 percent from the 7.80 thousand metric tons output in the same period of 2022. (Figure 1)

During the quarter, CALABARZON was the top producer of dairy with 1.81 thousand metric tons or 26.5 percent share to the total dairy production. Completing the top five regions with the highest volume of dairy production in the third quarter of 2023 were the following:

a.    Central Luzon, 1.04 thousand metric tons; 
b.    Western Visayas, 0.99 thousand metric tons; 
c.    Northern Mindanao, 0.87 thousand metric tons; and 
d.    Cagayan Valley, 0.55 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 76.9 percent of the country’s total dairy production during the quarter.

Relative to their outputs in the third quarter of 2022, five regions registered decrements in production during the period. In terms of level, Central Luzon registered the highest decline of 1.26 thousand metric tons, from 2.29 thousand metric tons in the third quarter of 2022 to 1.04 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of 2023. 

As of 30 September 2023, the total count of dairy animals was estimated at 98.88 thousand heads. This indicates a growth of 2.3 percent compared with the previous year’s same period count of 96.64 thousand heads. Of the total dairy animals inventory as of 30 September 2023, the dairy goat accounted for 36.6 percent. This was followed by dairy carabao with 33.2 percent share and dairy cattle with 30.1 percent share. (Figure 2)   

Central Luzon recorded the highest dairy animal population of 22.41 thousand heads as of 30 September 2023. This was followed by CALABARZON and Western Visayas with corresponding inventories of 10.88 thousand heads and 10.670 thousand heads. These three regions shared 44.5 percent to the country’s total dairy animal population as of 30 September 2023. (Figure 3)    

T

he average farmgate price of all dairy was quoted at PhP 51.32 per liter for the third quarter of 2023. This indicates an annual decline of 5.6 percent from the previous year’s same period average farmgate price of PhP 54.36 per liter. (Figure 4)

In the third quarter of 2023, the average farmgate price of dairy goat reached PhP 95.27 per liter, which was the highest farmgate price among the dairy types. This was followed by dairy carabao at PhP 74.36 per liter, while the lowest average farmgate price was noted in dairy cattle at PhP 37.60 per liter.  

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