Total carabao production from October to December 2022 was estimated at 37.13 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an annual decline of -0.3 percent relative to its same quarter of the previous year’s level of 37.24 thousand metric tons, liveweight.

The top five regions with the highest volume of carabao production at liveweight during the period were the following:
a. Eastern Visayas, 4.36 thousand metric tons;
b. Western Visayas, 4.22 thousand metric tons;
c. CALABARZON, 3.65 thousand metric tons;
d. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 3.28 thousand metric tons; and
e. Davao Region, 3.24 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 50.4 percent share to the country’s total carabao production.

In comparison to their output in the same quarter of 2021, eight regions reported  reductions  in  production  during  the quarter. In terms  of  level, Ilocos Region posted the highest decline of 0.30 thousand metric tons, from 2.55 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of the previous year to 2.25 thousand metric tons this fourth quarter of 2022.

As of 31 December 2022, the total carabao inventory contracted to 2,770.46 thousand heads, from 2,774.47 thousand heads stocks in the same period of the previous year. Decrease in carabao stocks were noted in smallhold farms at -0.2 percent. However, stocks in semi-commercial and commercial farms both increased by 2.7 percent and 15.4 percent, respectively. (Figure 2)

Bicol Region recorded the highest carabao population of 325.96 thousand heads This was followed by Western Visayas and Central Luzon with corresponding inventories of 264.51 thousand heads and 246.29 thousand heads. These three regions shared 30.2 percent to the country’s total carabao population. 

The average farmgate price of carabao for slaughter was quoted at PhP 144.68 per kilogram, liveweight for this quarter. This was 14.0 percent higher than the previous year’s same period average farmgate price of PhP 126.96 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

During the reference quarter, the highest farmgate price was observed in November at PhP 157.54 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest was quoted in October at PhP 134.71 per kilogram, liveweight.

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, Ph.D.
(Assistant National Statistician)
Officer-in-Charge, Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office