PRODUCTION

The total volume of chicken production in 2^nd semester 2020 was recorded at 40,722 metric tons liveweight. This was 2.95 percent lower than the 41,958 metric tons liveweight chicken production in same period of 2019. Chicken production in both 3rd and 4th quarters decreased by 3.40 and 2.56 percent, respectively. 

Ilocos Region contributed  4.45 percent  to  the  national  production of 916,134 metric tons liveweight, ranking 6th  among the  top ten chicken  producing regions.

INVENTORY

The total inventory of chicken in Ilocos Region as of July 1, 2020 was 10.04 million heads. It increased by 1.56 percent from previous year’s inventory of 9.88 million heads. The  inventory  further increased to  10.90 million heads as of October 1, 2020. This  was  higher by 7.46 percent than last year’s level of 10.14 million heads.  Increases in inventory  were noted in all provinces.  

By type of chicken, the inventory of broiler as of October 1, 2020 was 4.37 million heads (Figure 2). It was higher by 2.86 percent compared with 4.25 million heads in the same period of 2019.  Likewise, inventory of layers and native chickens as of October 1, 2020  increased by 7.42 percent and 11.60 percent respectively. Said increases in inventory can be attributed to distribution of free range chickens by the Department of Agriculture through the Local Government Units (LGUs) during the period. Native/improved chickens had the highest share to the  total chicken inventory in Ilocos Region as of October 1, 2020 with 48.61 percent  while broiler chicken and layers shared  40.09 percent and 11.30 percent, respectively.

PRICES

The monthly farm prices of chicken native in 2^nd half of 2020 were generally higher than the price levels of same period in 2019. The  average  farm price of  chicken native/improved  live for 2^nd  semester  2020 was  PhP164.09 per kilo liveweight. This was higher by 5.66 percent than the price of   PhP155.31 a year ago.  

On the otherhand ,  the  average retail price of chicken fully dressed broiler  in 2^nd semester 2020 decreased by 2.82 percent from Php 167.60 per kilo  in 2^nd semester 2019 to  Php 162.87 per kilo. 

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN