Carabao production in Ilocos Region decreases by 7.07 percent

The total carabao production in Ilocos Region recorded 8,121.90 metric tons liveweight in 2023, 7.07 percent lower than the 8,739.51 metric tons production in 2022.

Cattle production in the region decreased in both first and second semesters of 2023 by 7.89 percent and 6.14 percent, respectively.

Ilocos Region contributed 6.26 percent to the national production of 129,666.58 metric tons liveweight, ranking 9th among the carabao producing regions in the country.

Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur pulled down the regional carabao production

Pangasinan has the highest production recording 4,475.30 metric tons liveweight in 2023, contributing 55.10 percent of the region's carabao production. The province recorded a decline of 7.25 percent in 2023 from the 4,825.23 metric tons in 2022.

Ilocos Sur shared 17.63 percent to the region's carabao production. It has reported 1,432.12 metric tons liveweight in 2023, which is lower by 19.40 percent from the 1,776.82 metric tons liveweight production in 2022.

Ilocos Norte and La Union on the other hand, recorded increases of production in 2023 by 3.40 percent and 3.99 percent, respectively.

Carabao inventory in the region decreases as of January and July 2023

The total headcount of carabao in Ilocos Region as of 01 January 2023 posted 151,038 heads, which decreased by 9.15 percent compared to the inventory of 166,251 heads as of 01 January 2022.

As of 01 July 2023, carabao inventory registered a decrease of 8.11 percent over the 2022 levels of the same reference date. Decreases in carabao population were noted in Pangasinan and La Union by 18.75 percent, and 8.42 percent, respectively. On the other hand, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte posted decreases in inventory by 2.14 percent and 0.36 percent, respectively.

Farmgate Price

The average farm price of carabao for slaughter in the backyard farms in 2023 was PhP211.14 per kilo liveweight. This was higher by 0.49 percent than the average price of PhP210.11 per kilo liveweight in 2022. The highest price of PhP230.00    per kilo was recorded in January 2023.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN, CPA
Regional Director