The October to December 2019 total cattle production was 74.85 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This was 1.8 percent lower than the 2018 output of 76.22 thousand metric tons, liveweight. 

Relative to their levels in 2018, eight regions recorded decreases in production. Western Visayas reported the biggest decline of 9.3 percent, from 6.93 thousand metric tons, liveweight in 2018 to 6.29 thousand metric tons, liveweight in 2019.

Among the regions, Northern Mindanao was the highest producer of cattle at 9.88 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This was followed by CALABARZON and Central Visayas with production levels of 9.07 thousand metric tons and 6.97 thousand metric tons, liveweight, respectively. These regions accounted for 34.6 percent of the country’s total cattle production. (Table 1)

As of 01 January 2020, the total cattle inventory in the country was estimated at 2.542 million heads. This was higher by   0.3 percent compared with the previous year’s stocks of 2.535 million heads.

In backyard farms, cattle population at 2.392 million heads increased by 0.3 percent from the previous year’s count of 2.385 million heads. Similarly, stocks in commercial farms improved by 0.1 percent, from 150.08 thousand heads in 2019 to 150.24 thousand heads in 2020.

The top three regions in terms of inventory were Ilocos Region, Central Visayas, and CALABARZON with shares of 12.2 percent,11.3 percent, and 10.6 percent, respectively. These regions accounted for 34.1 percent of the country’s total cattle inventory. (Table 2)

The average farmgate price of cattle for slaughter in October to December 2019 was PhP117.21 per kilogram, liveweight. This was 19.4 percent higher than the average farmgate price of PhP98.20 per kilogram, liveweight in 2018.

During the reference period, the highest average farmgate price was recorded in December at PhP118.67 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest was in October at PhP115.70 per kilogram, liveweight. (Table 3)

TECHNICAL NOTES

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

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 tons, liveweight.
Inventory refers to the actual number of cattle present in the farm as of a specific reference date.
Farmgate price refers to the price received by livestock raisers for their produce at the location of farm. Thus, marketing costs such as transport and other marketing cost (if any) incurred in selling the produce are not included in the farmgate prices.

ROSALINDA P. BAUTISTA
Assistant Secretary
Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office