September 20, 2023

Philippines' livestock production up in Q2

According to a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), livestock production in the second quarter of the year showed a 0.6% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, totalling 540,460 metric tonnes (MT), The Manila Times reported.

Swine production played a significant role in this growth, surging by 1% to reach 422,720 MT annually.

However, dairy production saw a decline of 10%, dropping to 6,760 MT from 7,510 MT recorded in the previous year.

In the poultry sector, production reached 680,500 MT in the second quarter, reflecting a 1.5% increase compared to the previous year's 670,590 MT.

Chicken production, contributing 70.2% to the total poultry output, grew by 3.2% to 477,760 MT during the same quarter.

On the other hand, duck egg production decreased by 8.2% to 14,260 MT, and chicken egg production saw a 2.1% drop, reaching 181,740 MT.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp, said that despite facing challenges such as higher production costs, the increase in livestock production could be attributed to improved technology and innovation, particularly from foreign companies.

He also noted that the rise in demand, as the economy gradually resumed normalcy after the pandemic, played a role in the gains observed in livestock production.

-      The Manila Times