The country’s cattle and carabao population as of January 1 declined due to the reduction in the number of cows, caracows and yearlings, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In its annual reports published recently, the PSA said the total cattle inventory at the start of the year fell by 0.73 percent to 2.535 million heads from 2.553 million a year ago.
“Stocks of cattle in backyard farms declined by 0.74 percent from 2.40 million heads in 2018 to 2.39 million heads in 2019,” the PSA said.
“Likewise, cattle population in commercial farms diminished by 0.42 percent compared with the 2018 headcount of 150,720 heads,” it added.
The PSA attributed the decline in cattle inventory to
decreases observed in the population of cows, yearlings, others (castrated and
ready to breed bull) by 1.52 percent, 9.93 percent and 10.28 percent,
respectively.
“These three age classifications had a combined share of 68.58 percent to the total cattle inventory,” it added.
Cow population fell by 1.52 percent to 1.099 million heads, from 1.116 million, while inventory of yearlings declined by 10 percent to 409,762 heads from 454,947.
The population of castrated and ready-to-breed bulls fell by 10.28 percent to 229,946 heads from 256,286.
In a separate situation report, the PSA disclosed that the country’s total carabao inventory fell to 2.87 million from 2.88 million last year.
The PSA said the population of carabaos in both backyard and commercial farms declined by 0.3 percent and 3.72 percent, respectively.
Carabao held by backyard farms as of January 1 reached 2.863 million heads compared to the 2.871 million heads last year, while those in commercial farms declined to 10,351 heads from 10,751 heads.
“The reduction in carabao inventory in 2019 was due to the decreases in the inventory of carabull, caracow and yearling at 2.21 percent, 0.20 percent and 0.04 percent, respectively,” the PSA said.
“These three age classifications had a combined share of 84.52 percent to the total carabao inventory,” it added.
As of January 1, the PSA said the top 3 regions in terms of cattle inventory were Ilocos region, Central Visayas and Calabarzon. These regions contributed about 33.67 percent of the total cattle population in the country.
In backyard farms, Ilocos region, Central Visayas and Calabarzon reported the highest cattle inventories. These regions accounted for 35.20 percent of the total cattle stocks in backyard farms.
Cattle stocks in commercial farm were highest in Bicol region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon. These regions contributed 55.63 percent share of the total cattle population in commercial farms.
For carabao, the PSA said the Bicol region had the highest inventory followed by Western Visayas and Central Luzon.
The inventory of carabao in backyard farms were highest in Bicol region, Western Visayas and Central Luzon. These regions accounted for 29.38 percent of the total carabao inventory in backyard farms.
Carabao stocks in commercial farms were highest in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas, according to the PSA. These three regions comprised more than half of the total carabao stocks in commercial farms.
The PSA said the average farmgate price of cattle for slaughter rose by 8.03 percent to P107.56 per kilogram, from P99.56 per kg registered a year ago.
The average farmgate price of carabao for slaughter went up by 9.55 percent to P95.13/kg, from the previous year’s level of P86.84/kg.