The volume of goat production from April to June 2023 was recorded at 16.32 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an annual decline of -0.2 percent from the 16.36 thousand metric tons, liveweight output in the same period of 2022. (Figure 1)

Northern Mindanao was the top producer of goat with 2.01 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 12.3 percent share to the total goat production during the reference quarter. Completing the top five regions with the highest volume of goat production at liveweight in the second quarter of 2023 were the following:

a.    Central Visayas, 1.97 thousand metric tons;  
b.    Davao Region, 1.78 thousand metric tons;  
c.    Western Visayas, 1.68 thousand metric tons; and  
d.    Ilocos Region, 1.67 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 55.8 percent share to the country’s total goat production during the quarter.     
                                
Relative to their outputs in the same quarter of 2022, seven regions registered decrements in production during the reference quarter. In terms of level, Central Visayas registered the highest decline of 0.24 thousand metric tons, from 2.22 thousand metric tons in the second quarter of 2022 to 1.97 thousand metric tons this second quarter of 2023.

As of 30 June 2023, the total goat inventory was estimated at 3.88 million heads. This reflects a decrease of -0.5 percent compared with the previous year’s same period count of 3.90 million heads. About 99.3 percent of the country’s goat population came from smallhold farms, while semi-commercial and commercial farms contributed 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. (Figure 2)

Central Visayas recorded the highest goat population with 608.22 thousand heads. This was followed by Central Luzon and Western Visayas with corresponding inventories of 447.64 thousand heads and 434.83 thousand heads. These three regions shared 38.4 percent to the country’s total goat population as of 30 June 2023.

The average farmgate price of goat for slaughter was quoted at PhP 230.65 per kilogram, liveweight for this quarter. This was 7.3 percent higher than the previous year’s same period average farmgate price of PhP 215.03 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

In the second quarter of 2023, the highest average farmgate price was observed in May at PhP 235.53 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest average farmgate price was recorded in June at PhP 222.74 per kilogram, liveweight.

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