Christy Balita
Research expert covering the Philippines
Livestock and poultry sectors in the Philippines - statistics & facts
The Filipino diet relies heavily on meat, placing livestock and poultry among the essential segments of the country's agricultural sector. In addition, this sector is a major source of employment for farmers, retailers, and wholesalers of meat and dairy products. Out of all the animals raised for human consumption, hogs and chickens constituted the most extensively consumed species, thereby generating the majority of the production volume of livestock and poultry in the country. However, disruptions in production, along with animal diseases, continue to challenge the sector's growth.
While pork had been a staple in many Filipino meals, chicken meat gained significant popularity among consumers compared to other meat types due to its affordability. Layer chickens had the lowest farmgate price per kilo of all livestock and poultry animals reared on commercial farms. The number of chickens in poultry farms was also stable in the past decade, leading to consistent production volume.
Livestock and poultry production
Backyards and commercial farms rear animals of different types, sustaining the country's growing demand for meat, particularly pork. In 2022, domestic pork consumption reached 1.53 million tons per person and was forecast to hit 2.2 million tons in 2032. To meet growing demands, livestock farmers have been increasing the production volume of various meat types. However, the supply of hogs on farms has been slowing down over the past three years, leading to increasing swine meat imports. Supply challenges amidst gradually increasing meat consumption resulted in pork meat retail price increase.While pork had been a staple in many Filipino meals, chicken meat gained significant popularity among consumers compared to other meat types due to its affordability. Layer chickens had the lowest farmgate price per kilo of all livestock and poultry animals reared on commercial farms. The number of chickens in poultry farms was also stable in the past decade, leading to consistent production volume.
Challenges in the livestock and poultry industry
The continued spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) cases in Luzon and Mindanao has caused supply disruptions recently and caused significant economic losses for farmers and the food supply. The number of hogs slaughtered for meat production has fluctuated since 2010, with its lowest figure recorded in 2021. In addition, an avian influenza or bird flu outbreak also occurred in 2022, resulting in the culling of millions of birds, although there were no noticeable changes reported in the production of chicken meat in that year. The availability of an ASF vaccine was expected to reduce the possibility of another outbreak. Reduced feed costs were also pegged to lower the cost of production of livestock and poultry products. However, there remains a considerable demand to empower farmers by providing knowledge and skills that could boost productivity and income. There is also a need to bridge gaps in performance, especially in livestock production, as most pork and cattle supplies are raised on backyard farms. Meanwhile, commercial farms supply most poultry products.
