Poultry, hog production up in Q3; cattle down

LIVESTOCK production was mixed in the third quarter, with hog, chicken, and chicken egg output growing on a seasonally adjusted basis and cattle production declining, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Seasonally adjusted volumes, which strip out the effect of factors like trader demand, disease outbreaks, and natural calamities, show the underlying trends in production, allowing for clearer comparisons across quarters.

Citing preliminary data, the PSA said the seasonally adjusted volume of hog production in the third quarter was 411,130 metric tons (MT) on a liveweight basis, up 1.2% from the previous quarter.

This is the first time the hog industry has shown quarter-on-quarter growth since the third quarter of 2023.

Seasonally adjusted chicken production rose 3.6% quarter on quarter to 582,330 MT (liveweight).

Seasonally adjusted chicken egg production was 212,060 MT, up 3.3% quarter on quarter.

Cattle was the sole decliner on a seasonally adjusted basis, falling 1.6% quarter on quarter to 58,310 MT (liveweight).  — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel