Cattle Situation Report, January to March 2023

The January to March 2023 cattle production was estimated at 53.89 thousand metric tons, liveweight, indicating an increase of 1.9 percent from the reported cattle production of 52.89 thousand metric tons, liveweight in the same period of 2022. (Figure 1)

During the period, Northern Mindanao was the top producer of cattle with 11.26 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 20.9 percent share to the total cattle production. Completing the top five regions with highest volume of cattle production at liveweight during the quarter were the following:
a. Ilocos Region, 5.46 thousand metric tons;
b. Central Visayas, 5.41 thousand metric tons;
c. Western Visayas, 4.70 thousand metric tons; and
d. CALABARZON, 4.11 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 57.4 percent share to the country's total cattle production in the first quarter of 2023.

Relative to their output in the same quarter of 2022, nine regions posted increases in production during the quarter. In terms of level, Central Visayas posted the highest increase of 1.06 thousand metric tons, from 4.36 thousand metric tons in the first quarter of 2022 to 5.41 thousand metric tons this first quarter of 2023.

As of 31 March 2023, the total cattle inventory reached 2.57 million heads. This indicates a decrease of -0.2 percent from the previous year's same period count of 2.58 million heads. About 82.1 percent of the country's cattle population during the period came from smallhold farms, while the remaining 14.3 percent and 3.6 percent were comprised of semi-commercial farms and commercial farms, respectively. (Figure 2 )

Central Visayas recorded the highest cattle population with 341.06 thousand heads. This was followed by Ilocos Region and CALABARZON with corresponding inventories of 250.09 thousand heads and 249.56 thousand heads. These regions shared 32.7 percent to the country's total cattle population as of 31 March 2023.

The average farmgate price of cattle for slaughter was quoted at PhP 169.33 per kilogram, liveweight during the quarter. This was 22.7 percent higher than the previous year's same quarter average farmgate price of PhP 138.00 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

During the reference quarter, the highest average farmgate price was noted in February at PhP 176.01 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest average farmgate price was observed in January at PhP 157.84 per kilogram, liveweight.

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