Highlights

Canadian hog producers reported an estimated 11.9 million hogs on their farms as of 1 July 2011, up 0.8 per cent from 11.8 million hogs on the same date in 2010.

There were 1.3 million sows and gilts on farms, down 1.1 per cent from 1 July 2010 and 5.1 per cent below the levels reported on 1 July 2009.

During the second quarter of 2011, total hog exports amounted to 1.4 million head, down 3.1 per cent from the same quarter in 2010. Hogs that were sent to slaughter totalled 5.1 million during the second quarter of 2011, 1.3 per cent fewer than the same period in 2010.

Analysis of the Hog Statistics for 1 July 2011

As of 1 July 2011, Canadian hog producers reported 11.9 million hogs on their farms, up 0.8 per cent from the same period a year earlier. It was the first increase in July inventories on a year-over-year basis since July 2006 and the second consecutive quarter of growth.

Table 1. Hog inventories on 1 July and 1 April, Canada and Provinces (2010 to 2011)
Note(s): The superscript r stands for revised.

Also on 1 July 2011, hog producers reported an estimated 11.9 million hogs on their farms, up from 11.8 million hogs on the same date in 2010. Hog inventories grew 1.6 per cent in the first quarter and 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2011 on a year-over-year basis.

Quebec and Alberta reported total inventory declines from 1 July 2010 at 0.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively. The Atlantic region and the remaining provinces reported gains in inventory levels.

Farmers reported 1.3 million sows and gilts on farms on 1 July 2011, down 1.1 per cent from the same date a year earlier and 5.1 per cent below the level for July 2009. Hog farmers anticipate that the number of sows to farrow in Canada during the third and fourth quarters in 2011 will virtually remain unchanged from the same periods in 2010.

Figure 1. Total hog and sow inventories on 1 July, Canada (1991 to 2011)

During the second quarter of 2011, a total of 5.1 million hogs were sent to slaughter, 1.3 per cent fewer than the same period in 2010. Canadian hog slaughter peaked in the fourth quarter of 2004 at just over 6.0 million head.

Hog exports amounted to 1.4 million head during the second quarter 2011, down 3.1 per cent from the same quarter in 2010. Second-quarter exports were 42.5 per cent below the peak of 2.4 million head recorded in July 2007.

Figure 2. Hog exports, quarterly, Canada (2006 to 2011)

As of 1 July 2011, an estimated 6,920 Canadian farms reported hogs, 2.7 per cent fewer on a year-over-year basis. The average number of hogs per operation increased from 1,660 to 1,719 over the same period.

Further Reading

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