Cattle production in Ilocos Region increased by 19.8 percent

The total cattle production in the Ilocos Region was estimated at 5,684 metric tons, liveweight in first quarter 2025. This indicates an increase of 19.8 percent from the 4,744 metric tons, liveweight recorded in the first quarter of 2024.

The Ilocos Region ranked second among the regions in terms of cattle production in first quarter 2025, accounting for 10.4 percent of the nation’s total production. This contribution was part of the country’s overall production of 54,785 metric tons, liveweight.

Pangasinan led the region’s cattle production with 2,189 metric tons in the first quarter of 2025, accounting for 38.5 percent of the total production. Ilocos Norte ranked second with 1,746 metric tons, liveweight, accounting for 30.7 percent. Ilocos Sur and La Union have recorded 1,174 metric tons, liveweight or 20.7 percent, and 575 metric tons, liveweight (10.1 percent), respectively.

Cattle population decreased by 3.6 percent

The cattle inventory as of 01 January 2025 of 274,092 heads declined by 2.3 percent compared to the same reference period in 2024. As of 01 April 2025, the Ilocos Region’s cattle population reached 269,291 heads, reflecting a 3.6 percent decrease from 279,253 heads recorded as of 01 April 2024.

Among the provinces in the region, Ilocos Norte and La Union experienced positive growth in cattle population as of 01 January 2025, recording an increase of 0.6 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan recorded a negative growth of 8.0 percent and 3.3 percent in their respective cattle population. 

The provinces of Ilocos Norte (0.1 percent) and La Union (1.9 percent) posted increases in cattle population as of 01 April 2025. On the other hand, Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan recorded decline in cattle population, with Pangasinan recording the highest at 7.5 percent, and Ilocos Sur at 5.9 percent.

Cattle population in the Ilocos Region mostly came from smallhold

Around 95.7 percent of the region’s cattle population as of 01 April 2025 came from smallhold farms, while the remaining 3.4 percent and 0.9 percent were from semi-commercial and commercial farms, respectively.

Farmgate Price

The average farmgate price of cattle for slaughter in the first quarter of 2025 was PhP219.47 per kilogram, liveweight. It went down by 7.0 percent from the average farmgate price of PhP235.96 per kilogram, liveweight in the first quarter 2024. The highest farmgate price during the quarter was recorded in March, at PhP235.60 per kilogram, liveweight.

For the Regional Director:

SGD: CAMILLE CARLA U. BELTRAN
Chief Administrative Officer
(Officer-in-Charge)
Per SO No. RSSO I-2506-0346
Dated 23 June 2025