The number of poultry in Aklan increased by 33 percent as of January 1, 2018 based on the latest record of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Aklan.

Data showed that the province’s inventory of poultry as of the reference period reached 1,280,287 heads higher by 319,435 compared to 960,852 heads.

Chicken registered the highest inventory of 1,225,541 or an increase of 35 percent from 905,301 in 2016.

On the other hand, duck inventory contracted by 1.4 percent from 55,551 a year ago to 54,746 in 2017.

Meanwhile, the province’ livestock inventory declined by 3 percent in 2017 from 163,365 heads to 157, 352 heads.

The biggest drop was noted in carabao with 9 percent (from 20,332 heads in 2016 to 18,457 heads in 2017), followed by cattle with 8 percent (from 24,409 heads to 23,870 heads), and hog with 2 percent (from 110,529 heads to 108,060 heads).

Only the inventory of goat posted an increase of 2 percent from 8,095 to 8,288 heads.

According to Provincial Statistics Officer Antonet Catubuan, the inventory of animal population refers to the actual number of domesticated animals present in the farm at a specific reference date.

PSO Catubuan said that these data were derived from the Backyard and Commercial Livestock and Poultry Surveys (BLPS/CLPS) conducted quarterly to determine the performance of the livestock and poultry industry./WDJ