January 25, 2013

Philippines sees rise in chicken and pork output in 2012

Output of chicken and pork in the Philippines has risen in 2012, improving the growth of the poultry and livestock subsectors.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that chicken production increased by 4.61%, higher than the 4.53% increment in the poultry subsector.

Chicken egg production also rose by 4.37%. The department said the increase in the number of laying hens and the sustained demand for eggs were reported in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao.

Duck meat and egg production also went up by 2.08% and 5.52%, respectively.

Hog production grew by 1.71%, which allowed the livestock subsector to post a 1.71% growth in 2012 despite drops in carabao, cattlea and goat output.

Carabao production fell by 3.25%, cattle by 0.89% and goat by 3.25%.

Dairy production increased by 20.16% due to sustained increases in the number of milking animals, particularly in National Dairy Authority-assisted dairy farms and cooperatives, according to the DA.

The livestock and poultry subsectors account for 16.07% and 14.27%, respectively, of the total agricultural production last year.