December 8, 2008
Philippines' January-September meat production dwindles
The Philippine Department of Agriculture has reported a decline in the country's meat production by 2 percent on-year. This was due to a 3 percent decline in pork to 1.3 million tonnes despite a 2 percent and 1 percent in the production of carabeef and beef, respectively, to 99,880 tonnes and 171,440 tonnes.
The drop in pork production was blamed on the reduced numbers of hog fattening, coupled with decreases in the number of animals slaughtered following the cholera scare in central Luzon. The significant increase in the number of cattle slaughtered in northern Mindanao in the second quarter and in Soccsksargen throughout the first three quarters of 2008 on the other hand pulled up beef production.
Goat production during January to September 2008 also climbed, by 3.7 percent on a year ago to 60,300 tonnes, with increased goat slaughter reported across most regions in the third quarter.
