The livestock subsector registered a growth of 4.1 percent in the January to March period, a turnaround from a decrease of 1 percent in the same period a year ago, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.Hog production hit 437,990 metric tons during the reference period, as per PSA, against 416,720 MT in the previous year. Calabarzon emerged as the leading hog production, accounting for 14 percent of the total.
The upbeat outlook provided by the DA runs contrary to the US Department of Agriculture’s report which stated the ASF would still affect pork output this year.The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service lowered the 2023 pork output forecast to 925,000 MT from 975,000 MT, pointing to the continued spread of animal disease to the Central and Western Visayas region, including Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Aklan.
Sombilla said that, given the scenario, the DA does not see retail prices of pork products declining in the near term.