Cattle output dips in six months to June

DOMESTIC cattle production in the first six months fell 0.42% from a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said, while value of cattle during the period rose.

In its September 2017 Cattle Inventory Situation Report, the statistics agency said preliminary estimates show that total volume of cattle production in January to June totaled 130,821 metric tons (MT) live-weight, down from the 131,369 MT recorded in the same period last year.

First quarter production rose 1.46% year on year to 61,980 MT.

Any first quarter gains, however, were offset by a 2.05% drop in production to 68,840 MT in the three months to June.

The gross value of cattle production at current prices during the sixmonth period was P12.721 billion, up 2.83% from a year earlier.

As of July 1, the total cattle inventory was estimated at 2,561,270 head, some 93.94% of which were raised in backyard farms with the remainder accounted for by commercial farms.

The PSA said inventory from backyard farms totaled 2.41 million head, up 0.61% year on year.

However, cattle numbers at commercial farms fell 5.46% from a year earlier.

The average price of cattle during the period was P97.21 per kilogram, liveweight, up 3.29% from a year earlier.

The Ilocos Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) accounted for the largest share of cattle in backyard farms at 12.24% and 10.84%, respectively.

Meanwhile, the highest share of cattle in commercial farms was in the Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon, with a combined 52.92%.

Overall the top three regions for cattle inventory were the Ilocos Region, Calabarzon and Northern Mindanao, with a combined 32.04% of total cattle inventory in the first half.

During the period, the volume of beef imports was 39,421.88 MT valued at $133.30 million — which includes insurance and freight. These indicators rose 8.32% and 20.72%, respectively, compared with 2016 levels.

The bulk of beef imports came in the second quarter of the year at 21,988.84 MT or about 55.78% of shipments during first half. —