Farm expansions boost chicken output by nearly 5%

EXPANDING broiler commercial farms increased the Philippines’ chicken production by 4.93 percent to 439,956 metric tons

from 419,303 MT a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

In its quarterly situation report on chicken, the statistics agency said these expansions were in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), and Region 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces, or Calabarzon).

The supply of broiler day-old chicks improved in Region 1 (Ilocos) and Calabarzon, it noted.

Of the total volume, 79.89 percent were contributed by broiler farms.

Top chicken producers in the period were Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4- A and 10 ( Northern Mindanao), accounting for 63.7 percent of the total. Region 3 alone produced an estimated 162,321 MT.

“In Central Luzon, output increases were attributed to the upgrading of tunnel vent farms, low mortality, and higher demand from food establishments,” PSA said.

Chicken egg production rose by 7.42 percent to 130.55 thousand MT in the quarter, compared with 121.54 thousand MT last year, on the back of expanding farms in Regions 1 to 3, 13 (Caraga), and CAR.

“Commercial layer farms in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa (Mindoro island and Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan provinces, or Region 4- B), Bicol ( Region 5), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces, or Region 12), reported increases -

the report said.

As a result of the expansion, the price of chicken eggs dropped by 1.95 percent, PSA said.

According to the agency, the average farmgate price of eggs in commercial farms in the quarter—P4.58 each—was 4.52 percent lower than last year’s.

Chicken inventory as of April

by 2.96 percent to 184.34 million birds, PSA said.