PRODUCTION
The total volume of hog production in IIocos Region for July-December 2021 was 27,604 metric tons liveweight. This was 35.05 percent lower than the 2nd Semester 2020 level. Both 3rd and 4th quarter production recorded decreases of 42.19 percent and 26.64 respectively.
Ilocos Region contributed 3.18 percent (Fig. 1) to the national production of 868,289.98 metric tons liveweight, ranking 12th among the hog producing regions in the country.
INVENTORY
The total headcount of swine in Ilocos Region as of July 1, 2021 was 338,738 heads. It declined by 42.23 percent from previous year’s inventory of 586,344 heads. Likewise, swine inventory as of Oct 1, 2021 of 301,301 heads decreased by 35.25 percent over last year’s level of same reference date.
The contraction in the swine population in Ilocos Region as of July 1, 2021 and October 1, 2021 was contributed by all provinces. The highest decreases in inventory for the above period compared to same reference last year were recorded in Pangasinan of 78.32 percent and 59.95 percent respectively. The contraction of swine headcount can be attributed to African Swine Fever (ASF) as some backyard raisers and commercial farms stopped operation in the region.
SLAUGHTERED IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES
Likewise, the total number of hogs slaughtered during the 2nd S emester 2021 decreased by 28.91 percent (Table 3) over the 2nd Semester 2020 level. Both 3rd and 4th quarter 2021 showed decreases in the number of hogs slaughtered by 38.17 percent and 17.64, respectively.
PRICES
The average farm price of hog for slaughter in backyard farms from July to December 2021 was PhP 175.16 per kilo liveweight. This was higher by 25.16 percent than the 2nd Semester 2020 price of Php 139.95 per kilo liveweight. The peak or highest price recorded during the period was Php 193.44 per kilo in December 2021.