PRODUCTION

The total volume of poultry production in La Union in 2024 was 21,071 metric tons liveweight. This posted a 14.27 percent decline over last year’s output of 24,579 metric tons liveweight. Chicken, with the biggest share to the poultry production, recorded a 16.89 percent decrease in output. Its by-product, chicken eggs, also recorded a decrease of 2.31 percent in output. Production of ducks in the province decreased by 9.35 percent while its by-product, duck eggs, recorded an increase of 5.88 percent in output. (Table 1)

CHICKEN

The total inventory of chicken was recorded at 2.01 million heads as of 01 January 2025, an increase of 39.14 percent relative to last year’s level of 1.44 million heads. Out of the total headcount, 43.30 percent were native chickens, 42.84 percent were broilers, 9.03 percent were layers, and the remaining 4.83 percent were gamefowl. (Figure 1)

The number of chickens dressed in Poultry Dressing Plants (PDPs) in 2024 was estimated at 19.04 million heads, higher than the 2023 level by 21.16 percent. The number of broilers dressed in the 1st and 2nd semesters of 2024 both increased by 36.96 percent and 9.14 percent, respectively. (Table 2)

The monthly average farm prices of chicken native live from January to June 2024 were generally lower than the prices last year of same period. The annual average price of chicken native live in 2024 was PhP211.50 per kilogram liveweight, 0.35 percent lower than the 2023 average price of PhP212.24 per kilogram liveweight. In 2024, the highest price was recorded in September at PhP234.89 per kilogram liveweight. (Figure 2)

CHICKEN EGGS

The average monthly retail prices of fresh chicken eggs for year 2024 were higher in the months of January and from August to December than the 2023 level. The annual average monthly retail price of fresh chicken eggs in 2024 was PhP8.44 per piece, 0.48 percent higher than the 2023 average monthly retail price of PhP8.40 per piece. (Figure 3)

DUCK

As of 01 January 2025, the province’s total duck inventory was 76,536 heads. This was 5.68 percent higher than the 2023 headcount of 72,421 heads. (Figure 4)

The annual average price of duck for meat in 2024 was PhP205.97 per kilogram liveweight, 37.52 percent higher than the 2023 average price of PhP149.77 per kilogram liveweight. In 2024, the highest price was recorded in August at PhP250 per kilogram liveweight. (Figure 5)

TECHNICAL NOTES

The data for this report is collected by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) through two major surveys, namely the Backyard Livestock and Poultry Survey (BLPS) and the Commercial Livestock and Poultry Survey (CLPS). Surveys are conducted simultaneously every quarter in all provinces of the country.

Another survey that supplements the data requirements of the subsector is the Compilation of Data from Slaughterhouses and Poultry Dressing Plants (CDSPDP). This covers the Accredited (AAA, AA) and Locally Registered Meat Establishments (LRMEs) nationwide and is undertaken in coordination with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and Provincial Veterinary Offices (PVO) of the four provinces.

Concepts and Definitions

• Animal Inventory (also, Animal Population) – the number of domesticated animals in head present in the farm at specific reference date.

• Abattoir (also, Slaughterhouse) –the premises that are approved, registered and licensed by the NMIS and Local Government Units (LGUs) in which food animals are slaughtered, dressed, inspected and hygienically handled in order to produce meat and offal that are safe and wholesome

• Broiler – strains of foreign breeds of chicken especially raised for meat purposes only.

• Backyard Farm/Raiser- refers to any farm or household raising at least one head of animal or bird and does not qualify as a commercial farm.

• Commercial Poultry Farm/Operator- refers to any poultry operator or farm which operation satisfies at least one of the following conditions: a) 500 layers or 1,000 broilers; b) 100 layers and 100 broilers if raised in combination; and c) 100 heads of duck regardless of age.

• Farmgate price-refers to the price received by poultry raisers for their produce at the location of farm. Thus, marketing costs such as transport and other marketing cost (if any) incurred in selling the produce are not included in the farmgate prices

• Layer – foreign strain female chicken regardless of age, raised mainly for table egg production.

• Poultry - a collective term for all domesticated avian for the purpose of food consumption or, the carcass of such avian/dressed processed for human consumption.

• Poultry Dressing Plants - premises that are approved and registered by NMIS and LGUs in which poultry are dressed for human consumption.

SGD. DANITES. TEÑIDO, PhD
Chief Statistical Specialist

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