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Philippines Livestock
In 1990 the livestock industry, consisting primarily of
cattle, carabao (water buffalo), hogs, and chickens, accounted
for almost 20 percent of value added in the agricultural sector,
up from 12 percent in 1980. Much of the growth came from the
rapid expansion of poultry raising, which had begun to develop as
a commercial industry in the 1960s. Chicken raising accounted for
half of livestock value added in 1990 as compared with a quarter
in 1970. Beginning in the late 1980s, commercial hog raisers also
attempted to enter the international market by exporting live
hogs to Hong Kong. Although carabao production increased as a
result of an intensified livestock dispersal program run by the
government, the carabao and cattle industries remained primarily
backyard ventures.
In the late 1980s, hogs provided 60 percent of total domestic
meat production; chickens provided 15 percent; and cattle and
carabao, about 20 percent. The country was relatively selfsufficient in hog and chicken production but imported
approximately 4,500 tons of beef annually. The economic
difficulties of the 1980s made the lower-priced chicken and
carabao attractive substitutes for higher-priced pork and beef,
but carabao raising remained oriented primarily toward providing
work animals. The dairy industry in the Philippines also was
quite small. Liquid milk generally was not available in the
market, and virtually all canned and dry milk was imported.
Data as of June 1991
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