Hog, goat output rises in Western Visayas in Q4 2025

Hog and goat production in Western Visayas posted gains in the fourth quarter of 2025, even as carabao and cattle output continued to slide, according to preliminary data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Regional Statistical Services Office VI on March 10, 2026.

The report, which covers the region excluding Negros Occidental following the enactment of Republic Act No. 12000 or the Negros Island Act, presents livestock and poultry production volumes and inventories for the October-to-December period.

Hog production grew by 8.8 percent, rising from 14,141 metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 15,382 metric tons in the same period of 2025.

Goat production likewise climbed, increasing by 12.3 percent from 680 metric tons to 764 metric tons over the same comparative period.

Carabao production, however, dropped by 14.0 percent, falling to 1,855 metric tons from 2,157 metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Cattle production recorded the steepest decline among livestock types, down 16.9 percent — or 537 metric tons less — compared to the same quarter the previous year, bringing the total to 2,650 metric tons.

The drop in livestock output was mirrored in slaughterhouse activity, with all four major animal types recording fewer heads slaughtered in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

A total of 4,982 carabao were slaughtered in slaughterhouses, down 8.3 percent or 452 heads fewer than in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Cattle slaughtering fell by 16.6 percent, from 10,213 heads in 2024 to 8,515 heads in 2025.

Hog slaughtering declined by 6.2 percent, from 115,545 heads to 108,347 heads over the same comparative period.

The sharpest slaughterhouse decline was recorded in goat slaughtering, which plunged 61.0 percent — from 369 heads in the fourth quarter of 2024 to just 144 heads in the same period of 2025, representing a drop of 225 heads.

As of January 1, 2026, Iloilo held the largest share of the regional livestock inventory across all four animal types.

Iloilo accounted for 45.2 percent of the carabao inventory, with 56,472 heads out of the regional total of 125,059.

It also led in goat inventory, contributing 41.3 percent or 58,390 heads out of 141,244 heads across Western Visayas.

For cattle, Iloilo held 30.7 percent of the regional total, with 43,130 heads out of 140,648.

Iloilo’s share of the swine inventory stood at 29.7 percent, or 78,053 heads out of the region’s 263,179 heads.

Antique and Capiz rounded out the top three provincial contributors. Antique accounted for 22.5 percent of the carabao inventory, 35.5 percent of cattle, 33.6 percent of swine, and 19.0 percent of goat.

Capiz contributed 15.7 percent to the carabao count, 17.7 percent for cattle, 15.7 percent for swine, and 23.7 percent for goat.

On the poultry side, both chicken and duck production posted modest gains in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Chicken production grew by 1.9 percent, reaching 26,847 metric tons, while duck production rose 2.0 percent to 506 metric tons.

Duck egg production also increased, rising 2.5 percent to 576 metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to 562 metric tons in the same period of 2024.

Chicken egg production, however, fell by 1.3 percent — down 101 metric tons to 7,621 metric tons from 7,723 metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The number of chickens dressed in poultry dressing plants reached 9,920,727 birds in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of 280,969 birds or 2.9 percent compared to the 9,639,758 birds dressed in the same period of 2024.

Western Visayas recorded a total chicken inventory of 12,003,347 birds as of January 1, 2026, with Iloilo dominating at 53.0 percent of the total, followed by Capiz at 18.6 percent, Aklan at 16.0 percent, Antique at 7.7 percent, and Guimaras at 4.7 percent.

Among chicken types, Iloilo led in broiler, layer, and native/improved chicken inventories.

Of the region’s 3,188,824 broiler chickens, Iloilo held 40.4 percent, followed by Aklan at 34.3 percent and Capiz at 25.1 percent.

For the native/improved chicken population, which totaled 7,572,908 birds, Iloilo contributed 59.9 percent, Capiz 14.4 percent, and Antique 9.5 percent.

The layer chicken inventory totaled 1,116,013 birds, with Iloilo at 44.0 percent, Capiz at 27.5 percent, and Antique at 14.6 percent.

In gamefowl, Antique edged Iloilo by the slimmest of margins. The regional gamefowl inventory stood at 125,602 birds, with Antique at 32.82 percent, Iloilo at 32.80 percent, and Capiz at 24.8 percent.

The regional duck inventory as of January 1, 2026 was 596,806 birds, led by Iloilo at 37.6 percent and Capiz at 27.2 percent, followed by Antique at 20.2 percent, Aklan at 11.9 percent, and Guimaras at 3.0 percent.