The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released its 2023 livestock and poultry statistics for Western Visayas, highlighting significant shifts in production levels among various animal types.
Hog production saw a substantial decline, dropping by 22.7% from 205,040 metric tons in 2022 to 158,471 metric tons in 2023. This decrease is contrasted by increases in other livestock categories.
Carabao production rose by 3.9%, reaching 17,159 metric tons, while cattle production experienced a slight increase of 0.1%, totaling 19,007 metric tons.
Goat production also saw a notable increase of 10.5%, climbing to 7,105 metric tons from 6,428 metric tons the previous year.
In terms of slaughtering activities, 2023 recorded fewer cattle and hogs being processed in slaughterhouses, with hogs seeing a 1.3% decrease and cattle a 5.6% reduction. Conversely, carabao and goat slaughtering activities increased by 2.0% and 0.5%, respectively.
Negros Occidental and Iloilo emerged as the top contributors to the region’s livestock inventory as of January 1, 2024.
Negros Occidental held the largest shares in carabao (35.3%) and goat (57.2%) inventories, while Iloilo followed closely. For hogs, Negros Occidental accounted for 61.8% of the inventory, significantly overshadowing other provinces.
The poultry sector, however, showed positive growth. Chicken production increased by 4.8% to 131,926 metric tons, and chicken egg production surged by 7.9%, reaching 40,015 metric tons. In contrast, duck and duck egg production decreased by 1.9% and 5.4%, respectively.
Negros Occidental and Iloilo also led in chicken inventory, contributing 38.7% and 31.2%, respectively, to the region’s total of 18,620,023 birds as of January 1, 2024.
The broiler chicken inventory was dominated by Negros Occidental, which accounted for 51.2% of the total 4,514,694 birds.
