PRODUCTION

The total volume of  carabao production  in Ilocos Region in 2020  was estimated at 7,479 metric tons, liveweight. This was 12.91 percent lower than  the 2019 output of 8,587 metric tons, liveweight. Production on both 1st semester and 2nd semester 2020 showed decreases of 21.28 percent and 3.84 percent respectively.

All provinces in the region observed a decline in carabao production in 2020. The COVID 19 restrictions may have effected   to lesser stocks  slaughtered and sold live. Lesser  animal movements as well as restrictions on social gatherings were noted during the period.

The total number of carabao butchered in slaughterhouses in  Ilocos Region in 2020 decreased by 18.92 percent over its 2019 level. Both the 1st and 2nd semesters recorded decreases in the number of slaughtered carabao in slaughterhouses by 27.34 and 10.48 percent respectively.

INVENTORY

Total population of carabao in Ilocos Region as of January 1, 2020 was 178,438 heads. This was higher  by 4.97 percent from previous year’s inventory of 169,996 heads. All provinces recorded increases in carabao headcount on January 1, 2020.

PRICES

The annual average farmgate price of carabao for slaughter in the region in 2020 was ₱112.07 per kilogram, liveweight. This was 4.11 percent higher than the 2019 farmgate price of ₱107.65 per kilogram, liveweight. During the reference period, the lowest farmgate price was recorded in January at ₱108.81 per kilogram, liveweight, while the highest was in December  at ₱116.87 per kilogram, liveweight.