Highlights

Canadian hog producers reported an estimated 12.0 million hogs on Canadian farms as of 1 October 2011, up 0.9 per cent relative to the same date in 2010.

The estimated number of sows held for breeding remained virtually unchanged from 1 October 2010.

During the third quarter of 2011, total hog exports amounted to 1.4 million head, down 4.3 per cent from the same quarter in 2010.

Hogs that were sent to slaughter during the third quarter of 2011 totalled 5.3 million, up 2.0 per cent from the same period in 2010.

Analysis of the Hog Statistics for 1 October 2011

On 1 October 2011, there were an estimated 12.0 million hogs held on Canadian farms, an increase of 0.9 per cent relative to the same date a year earlier. The estimated number of sows held for breeding remained virtually unchanged, despite improvements in hog slaughter prices.

Table 1: Hog inventories on 1 October and 1 July, Canada and Provinces(2010 to 2011)
	1 October 2010	1 July 2011	1 October 2011	July to October 2011	October 2010 to October 2011
	thousands of head			percentage change
Canada	11,885.0	11,895.0	11,990.0	0.8	0.9
East	6,917.0	6,879.0	6,932.0	0.8	0.2
Atlantic	132.0	139.0	141.5	1.8	7.2
Quebec	3,935.0	3,905.0	3,940.0	0.9	0.1
Ontario	2,850.0	2,835.0	2,850.5	0.5	0.0
West	4,968.0	5,016.0	5,058.0	0.8	1.8
Manitoba	2,620.0	2,615.0	2,620.0	0.2	0.0
Saskatchewan	770.0	825.0	840.0	1.8	9.1
Alberta	1,500.0	1,490.0	1,510.0	1.3	0.7
British Columbia	78.0	86.0	88.0	2.3	12.8

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

Three provinces – Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba – account for more than three quarters of Canadian hog inventories. On 1 October 2011, Quebec accounted for 32.9 per cent of the total Canadian inventories with an estimated 3.9 million hogs held on farms. Ontario came next with 2.9 million hogs followed by Manitoba with 2.6 million head, accounting for 23.8 per cent and 21.9 per cent of national hog inventories, respectively.

Over the most recent ten-year period, the third quarter hog slaughter was observed to have peaked at 5.6 million head in 2004; the 5.3 million animals slaughtered during the same period in 2011 are 5.9 per cent below that level. Hog slaughter in the third quarter increased 2.0 per cent over the same period a year earlier, and by 5.1 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2011. However, the third quarter slaughter remained 4.1 per cent below the number reported in 2009.

Given the relative distribution of the Canadian herd throughout the provinces, it is not surprising that hog processing is concentrated in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. There were 1.8 million hogs slaughtered in Quebec representing 34.5 per cent of the total Canadian slaughter during the July through September 2011 period. Ontario facilities processed 1.3 million hogs (23.6 per cent) and processing facilities in the province of Manitoba handled 1.1 million accounting for 20.6 per cent of the Canadian total.

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

The number of hogs exported internationally in the third quarter declined for a fourth consecutive year. Over the most recent ten-year period, the third quarter hog exports peaked in 2007 at 2.5 million head, and then declined in each subsequent year.

The third quarter hog exports fell to 1.4 million head, 4.3 per cent lower than the same quarter a year earlier and 42.6 per cent lower than the third quarter peak observed in 2007. The current estimate of hogs exported into international markets is at the second lowest level for the third quarter since 2001.

Further Reading

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