Livestock Production Report January to June 2013

Agriculture grew by 1.44 percent in the first half of 2013. Output increments from the livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors contributed to the overall production gain during the period. The crops subsector suffered a contraction. At current prices, gross earnings in agriculture amounted to P697.2 billion, higher by 0.88 percent than last year's record

The crops subsector which shared 51.79 percent in total agricultural output recorded a 0.54 percent decline. Palay output grew by 1.34 percent. Corn, coconut, sugarcane and banana came down with lower production during the period. The subsector grossed P375.1 billion at current prices. This was 4.30 percent lower than last year's performance.

Livestock production increased by 2.12 percent. The subsector contributed 15.53 percent to total agricultural production. Production increases were noted for hog at 2.36 percent and cattle at 2.28 percent. At current prices, the subsector grossed P111.8 billion, up by 11.43 percent from last year's earnings.

The poultry subsector accounted for 14.58 percent of the total agricultural production. It registered 4.39 percent growth in output. Chicken production which increased by 5.05 percent was the main source of growth. The subsector grossed P86.4 billion at current prices. This was 6.25 percent higher from last year's earnings.

On the average, farmgate prices went down by 0.56 percent in the first half of 2013. The crops subsector posted an average price decline of 3.78 percent. Prices in the livestock subsector increased by an average of 9.12 percent. Poultry subsector had a 1.78 percent price gain this year. In the fisheries subsector, prices inched up by an average of 0.94 percent.

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics