Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 3) — The country’s overall chicken inventory decreased in July, latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed.
The PSA estimated the national chicken population at 183.99 million birds as of July 1, lower by 1.3% from the 186.49 million tallied in the same period last year.
Native/improved chicken inventory dwindled by 2.7%, while the population of broiler chicken dropped by 6.7% from last year. Layer chicken inventory, meanwhile, grew by 10%.
The total chicken inventory was comprised of 45.2% of native/improved chicken and 31.1% of broiler chicken, while layer chicken had a 23.7% share.
Central Luzon had the largest chicken inventory among all regions at 31.35 million birds, followed by Northern Mindanao at 23.85 million, and Calabarzon with 22.79 million.
The PSA said these regions contributed 42.4% of the total chicken inventory of the Philippines.
In terms of chicken types, Western Visayas logged the highest native/improved chicken inventory with 13.16 million birds. Central Luzon recorded the biggest population of broiler chicken at 15.63 million birds, while Calabarzon had the most layer chickens at 15.44 million birds.
The Agriculture department earlier touted the poultry sector’s “crucial function” in the country’s pursuit of agricultural development.
Agriculture chief William Dar earlier said “the poultry subsector remains a major bright spot for spurring agricultural growth this year, towards a target of 2 percent” even while the Philippines reels from the threat of the African Swine Fever and repopulates its hog inventory.
