Cattle Industry Performance Report, Jan - Dec 2006
Description:
The country's cattle inventory as of January 1, 2007 was estimated at 2.56 million head, up by 1.50 percent compared to last year's level. Of the total cattle inventory; dairy cattle stocks accounted for 12,094 head. Inventory of backyard cattle farm posted a 1.82 percent growth while commercial farm stocks dropped by 3.14 percent against last year's output. Around 94 percent of the total stocks were raised in backyard farms.
In 2006, total cattle production was estimated at 238.27 thousand metric tons. This was 3.44 percent lower than last year's output of 246.75 thousand metric tons. The decline in production was evidenced by the drop in the number of slaughtered animals in abattoirs.
The 2006 average farmgate price of live cattle was quoted at P66.44 per kilogram. This was 4.62 percent higher than the previous year's level. Similarly, the annual average wholesale price increased to P137.45 per kilogram. Likewise, the annual average retail price went up by 1.37 percent from last year's levels.
On the average, farmgate prices increased by 17.70 percent during the first six months of 2008. Except for poultry, all subsectors recorded two-digit increases in farmgate prices. The crops subsector experienced the highest increase averaging 22.77 percent. Livestock prices were on the uptrend and rose by 16.01 percent this year. Fisheries had an average price increment of 12.98 percent while prices in the poultry subsector grew by 5.19 percent.
Lets hope prices start to move for beef cattle soon.
