Hog production rises in Western Visayas in early 2026

By Daily Guardian Staff

Hog production in Western Visayas grew by 20.4 percent in the first quarter of 2026 even as output for most other livestock and poultry commodities in the region declined, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

In its special release dated June 11, 2026, the PSA Regional Statistical Services Office VI said hog production rose to 16,577 metric tons from 13,769 metric tons in the same quarter of 2025.

Production of the region’s other major livestock commodities fell during the period.

Carabao production declined by 12.0 percent to 1,738 metric tons from 1,974 metric tons a year earlier.

Cattle production dropped by 22.2 percent, or 718 metric tons less than the same quarter of the previous year, settling at 2,509 metric tons.

Goat production decreased by 18.7 percent to 650 metric tons from 800 metric tons.

Slaughterhouse activity reflected the same divergence in the first quarter.

The number of hogs slaughtered in slaughterhouses rose by 32.6 percent to 110,706 heads from 83,477 heads in the first quarter of 2025.

Goat slaughtering increased by 84.2 percent, or 246 heads, to 538 heads from 292 heads.

Carabao slaughtering fell by 1.4 percent to 4,394 heads from 4,456 heads.

The number of cattle slaughtered decreased by 28.6 percent, or 3,237 heads, to 8,069 heads from 11,306 heads a year earlier.

Livestock inventory across the region generally contracted as of April 1, 2026.

The carabao inventory declined by 8.3 percent to 122,526 heads from 133,655 heads, while the cattle inventory fell by 7.0 percent to 138,452 heads from 148,950 heads.

Goat inventory dropped by 11.3 percent to 137,073 heads from 154,545 heads.

Swine inventory was the exception, edging up by 0.5 percent to 258,551 heads from 257,175 heads.

Iloilo held the largest share of the region’s livestock population as of April 1, 2026.

The province accounted for 45.9 percent of the carabao inventory, or 56,273 heads; 30.9 percent of cattle, or 42,752 heads; 29.2 percent of swine, or 75,537 heads; and 42.6 percent of goats, or 58,372 heads.

Antique held 22.7 percent of the carabao inventory, 35.1 percent of cattle, 34.7 percent of swine, and 19.3 percent of goats.

Capiz accounted for 15.4 percent of carabao, 17.5 percent of cattle, 14.8 percent of swine, and 22.7 percent of goats.

Poultry production also declined in the first quarter.

Chicken production slipped by 1.0 percent to 26,798 metric tons, while duck production fell by 32.4 percent to 433 metric tons.

Chicken egg production went down by 5.5 percent, or 455 metric tons lower, to 7,779 metric tons.

Duck egg production decreased by 13.2 percent to 496 metric tons from 572 metric tons.

The number of chickens dressed in poultry dressing plants rose by 21.6 percent, or 2,078,067 birds, to 11,681,062 birds from 9,602,995 birds in the first quarter of 2025.

The region’s chicken inventory stood at 11,779,345 birds as of April 1, 2026, down 5.4 percent from 12,452,234 birds a year earlier.

Iloilo led the chicken inventory with 52.2 percent, followed by Capiz at 19.7 percent, Aklan at 15.7 percent, Antique at 8.5 percent, and Guimaras at 4.0 percent.

Iloilo also led the layer, native or improved, and gamefowl chicken inventories.

Of the region’s 1,158,887 layer chickens, which rose by 2.9 percent year-on-year, Iloilo accounted for 42.4 percent, followed by Capiz at 30.1 percent and Antique at 13.9 percent.

For the 8,156,486 native or improved chickens, down 0.6 percent from a year earlier, Iloilo contributed 58.7 percent, Capiz 15.5 percent, and Aklan 11.0 percent.

The gamefowl inventory rose by 25.0 percent to 156,776 birds, with Iloilo at 46.5 percent, Antique at 23.8 percent, and Capiz at 17.9 percent.

Broiler chicken, which fell by 23.0 percent to 2,307,196 birds, was led by Aklan at 35.6 percent, followed by Iloilo at 34.4 percent and Capiz at 29.3 percent.

The duck inventory totaled 574,475 birds as of April 1, 2026, down 16.7 percent from 690,040 birds, with Iloilo and Capiz leading at 35.7 percent and 27.9 percent, respectively.

Average farmgate prices increased for most livestock and poultry commodities in the first quarter.

Cattle for slaughter posted the highest year-on-year increase at 14.3 percent, rising to PHP 163.11 per kilogram, liveweight, from PHP 142.68.

Carabao for slaughter rose by 7.1 percent to PHP 139.29 from PHP 130.05, while duck increased by 4.3 percent to PHP 250.68 from PHP 240.37.

Chicken egg prices climbed by 3.3 percent to PHP 8.27 per piece, goat for slaughter rose by 2.2 percent to PHP 247.28 per kilogram, and duck egg edged up by 0.8 percent to PHP 11.62 per piece.

Hog for slaughter recorded the largest decrease at 24.7 percent, with its price falling to PHP 182.78 per kilogram, liveweight, from PHP 242.71.

Broiler chicken prices declined by 4.2 percent to PHP 132.59 from PHP 138.33 per kilogram, liveweight.