July 31, 2007

Q1 livestock production up 3.2 percent in Philippines' North Mindanao

Production in the livestock, poultry and meat industry in the Northern Mindanao region was up 3.2 percent for the first quarter of the year, according to the Department of Agriculture Region 10 office (DA 10).

The region registered a total of 67,783 tonnes in live weight from the 65,679 tonnes posted in 2006, according to DA 10 director Lealyn A. Ramos.

Ramos said the highest increase was recorded in duck eggs with 896 tones or 5.04 percent increase from last year's 853 tones due to the rising number of laying flocks.

Goats came in second with 1,130 tonnes or 5.02 percent increase from 1,076 tonnes registered in the same period last year.

Chicken eggs also increased by five percent from 6,479 tonnes to 6,803 tonnes. Swine was also up by five percent, from 26,251 tonnes to 27,564 tonnes, and cattle by 0.65 per cent - from 7,656 tonnes to 7,706 tonnes.

The increase were attributed to the soaring number of animals slaughtered in the abattoirs and in the farm, particularly for cattle and swine, while more goat heads were sold outside the region, Ramos said.