El Nino failed to dampen livestock and poultry subsectors in the Philippines as both managed to post modest gains in the first quarter of the year, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a recent report by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), livestock subsector grew by a modest 0.51% in the first three months of 2010, with production increases noted for hog, goat and cattle.

Meanwhile, dairy production posted a hefty 17.22% output gain.

On the other hand, the poultry subsector expanded 2.02% on the back of increases in chicken and chicken egg production of 1.81% and 4.43%, respectively.

These two subsectors accounted for close to 30% of the total agricultural output for the first quarter, BAS said.