Philippine E-Journals

Correlation Analysis of Animal Industry Variables Affecting Livestock Dispersal Programs

Orville L. Bondoc | Nenita L. De Castro

Discipline: Animal Science, Agricultural Economics

 

Abstract:

Historical data (1995-2008) on animal industry variables (i.e. annual change in animal inventory, value of production, price and per capita consumption of meat and eggs, and price of breeding animals) were studied using correlation analysis performed separately for carabao, cattle, goat, swine, chicken and duck sectors in Laguna, CALABARZON and the Philippines. As a direct consequence of dispersal programs involving live breeding animals, the change in animal inventory was considered the primary factor in correlation analyses. Other variables were analyzed to rationalize specific concerns of each sector. Dispersal programs are proposed in provinces or regions where significant positive correlation (P<0.05) is found between animal inventory and value of animal production. No significant correlation implies that increasing animal inventory through dispersal programs is not expected to add to value of production. Conversely, negative correlation implies inefficiency of production so that increasing the inventory is futile unless the level of management is improved. Dispersal program in Laguna is deemed unproductive for commercial cattle, goat, and broilers and backyard broiler and duck meat sectors. In CALABARZON, dispersal program is advised mainly for backyard duck egg sector. Applications of the correlation analyses at the national level may be irrelevant since there is variability in the different sectors between provinces and between regions. Because of large expenses involved in dispersal programs, results of correlation analyses are useful to guide policy makers from the Department of Agriculture and the local government units to judiciously determine priorities on what farm animal to distribute in a province or region.