Cattle are domesticated bovine farm animals that are raised for their meat, milk, or hides or for draft purposes. Cattle, simply called “cow” in the Philippines, is a profitable business if you are practicing a pa-ewi system (letting others take care of and grow your animals).
A friend’s father in San Juan, Batangas, has around 60 heads of cattle distributed to 46 people as a sideline business. he is a retired teacher and runs a frozen food business so he is not selling his cattle but slaughtering them and turn into processed meat.
Cattle are considered ruminant. A ruminant is an animal that has the capacity to swallow its food until it reaches the stomach and this food returns to the mouth for a second time chewing.
Not all cattle breeds will thrive in the Philippines. Temperate breeds of dairy cattle that have been raised successfully in the country are the Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and the Brown Swiss.
There are more than ten types of cattle that are raised to use their meat. Some of them are as follows:
- Angus or better known as Aberdeen Angus with dark skin.
- Belted Galloway or better known as “oreo cattle” because of its skin.
- Brahman cattle, Charolais, Dexter, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Holstein.
- Limousin, Piedmontese, Red Angus, Scottish Highland, Shorthorn.
- Simmental, Texas Longhorn, Watusi.
Some of these breeds are not found here in the Philippines. If you want to enter the cattle business, you need to know proper cattle care.
How to care for cattle
In order to be successful in raising a cow, you need to know this proper guide. So read the following information to help with your business plan, cattle raising.
- Choose a cow to buy. This will serve as a breeder for breeding cattle so choose a cow that is healthy and free of disease. For breeding, you need a female and a male cow.
- If you bought the cow far away and it needs to be transported, avoid stressing the cow during the trip. Prepare a vehicle with enough space for the cow. Also, make sure that there is air that can get inside the vehicle.
- Find extensive cattle grazing land. There must be enough grass to feed the cattle.
- Buy a thick, long leash or leash for the cow to use in herding. A long leash is needed for the cow to move freely around her pasture.
- At night, he must have a good cage. He must also have food and enough water inside his cage. Add vitamins and minerals to your drink and food.
- Give the cow the right vaccine and practice consulting veterinarians.
Food for your cattle
The cow is not picky so it is not expensive to feed the cow.
But when your pet cow is fattening, you need to know the foods you can give your cow.
- Improved forage such as Napier grass, para grass, and guinea grass.
- High-yielding forages include sorghum, hybrid corn, and sugarcane or sugarcane. It is given when these foods are more nutritious or not yet dry.
- Corn, on the other hand, is the best-harvested whole with its fruit when it is ripe.
- Roughages or crop residues such as straw, corn, stover, weeds, and so on.
- And other by-products such as darak, copra meal, brewer’s spent grains, ground corn, jackfruit peels, cassava meal, and pineapple pulp.
Where to buy cattle in the Philippines
The town of Padre Garcia in Batangas is considered The Cattle Capital of the Philippines and is doing business every week. On Fridays, livestock (mostly cattle, but also carabao, horses, pigs, and goats) are sold in a large open area across from the market stalls selling thick ropes and other farm implements. Whether you are looking to buy cattle for slaughter or for breeding, Padre Garcia is the ultimate place to go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cattle in the Philippines
How much are cattle in the Philippines?
The average farmgate price of one kilogram of cattle for slaughter from commercial farms in the Philippines is around P170 as of early 2022. The price can increase up to P250 due to lack of supply. Market price can reach up to P320. Live cattle when sold costs P45 to P95 depending on size.
What is the best breed of cattle in the Philippines?
Temperate breeds of dairy cattle that have been raised successfully in the Philippines are the Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and the Brown Swiss. The Holstein-Friesian has an average daily milk production of 22 kilograms with an average butterfat content of 3.6 percent.
What is the cattle situation in the Philippines?
The total cattle production from April to June 2021 was estimated at 60.99 thousand metric tons, live weight. This was 32.6 percent higher than the previous year’s same quarter output of 46.00 thousand metric tons, live weight.
Is cow farming profitable in the Philippines?
Cattle farming is a profitable business if you have enough space. Net profit from a single cattle can reach up to P20,000 in a year if fully healthy. This calf is not yet for slaughter but can cost that much if sold to other people for rearing. A 3-year-old cow can cost up to P80,000 and is fully healthy.
Are cows in the Philippines grass fed?
More than 90% of the cows farmed in the Philippines are grass-fed in their natural habitat. Large-scale cattle farming is not being done in the Philippines and most cattle are raised backyard.
Are there dairy cows in the Philippines?
In 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimated the country’s beginning inventory of dairy cattle (female dairy animals only) at 11,645, while there is 9,328 head of carabao and 8,851 goats.
Are backyard cattle raising profitable?
Backyard cattle fattening on a large scale can be profitably undertaken. It consists of buying healthy stock, feeding and fattening them for 120 to 180 days, and selling them at any time of the year. If you bought a 1-year-old cow, fattening it for another 3 months can give you a handsome profit.
How many cows are there in the Philippines?
In 2021, the total number of cattle in livestock farming in the Philippines amounted to approximately 2.61 million, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year. Cattle farming is typically carried out in the backyard than on commercial farms.
See Also:
- How the Sugar Industry in Negros Continues to Create Poverty
- 20 of the Most Profitable Animals to Grow in the Philippines
- 10 Oldest Native Trees in the Philippines
- Top 10 Food Crops in the Philippines
- Top 10 Pork Producing Provinces in the Philippines
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