Goat Situation Report, January to March 2023

The January to March 2023 goat production was estimated at 14.94 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an annual decline of -3.6 percent from the 15.50 thousand metric tons, liveweight output in the same period of 2022. (Figure 1)

During the period, Western Visayas was the top producer of goat with 1.85 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 12.4 percent share to the total goat production. Completing the top five regions with the highest volume of goat production at liveweight in the first quarter of 2023 were the following:

a. Ilocos Region, 1.83 thousand metric tons;
b. Davao Region, 1.53 thousand metric tons;
c. Northern Mindanao, 1.51 thousand metric tons; and
d. Central Visayas, 1.48 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 54.9 percent share to the country's total goat production during the quarter.

Relative to their outputs in the same quarter of 2022, eight regions registered decrements in production during the quarter. In terms of level, Central Visayas registered the highest decline of 0.48 thousand metric tons, from 1.96 thousand metric tons in the first quarter of 2022 to 1.48 thousand metric tons this first quarter of 2023.

As of 31 March 2023, the total goat inventory was estimated at 3.96 million heads. This was 1.0 percent higher compared with the previous year's same period count of 3.92 million heads. About 99.3 percent of the country's goat population came from smallhold farms, while about 0.8 percent comprised of semi-commercial and commercial farms. (Figure 2) 

Central Visayas recorded the highest goat population with 607.37 thousand heads. This was followed by Western Visayas and Central Luzon with corresponding inventories of 482.18 thousand heads and 437.30 thousand heads. These three regions shared 38.6 percent to the country's total goat population as of 31 March 2023.

The average farmgate price of goat for slaughter was quoted at PhP 214.80 per kilogram, liveweight for this quarter. This was 17.4 percent higher than the previous year's same period average farmgate price of PhP 182.91 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

In the first quarter of 2023, the highest average farmgate price was observed in March at PhP 231.05 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest average farmgate price was recorded in February at PhP 199.89 per kilogram, liveweight.

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