Need a Product or service?

The data from May demonstrated that this was not an isolated incident when Ontario feeder pig exports were above 200,000 for the second consecutive month. Exports to the US are also on the rise in Manitoba where more than 208,000 feeder pigs were shipped to the US in May.

The export growth continues a long term trend that saw Ontario's feeder pig exports quadruple from 1997 to 2002. While the trend has been well documented, there are several reasons why the continued rapid growth is exceptional.

Studies on the potential effects of the US Country of Origin labeling provisions suggested that administrative costs would increase dramatically for US producers finishing pigs that were born in Ontario, and that US demand for imported feeder pigs would fall sharply. News that the funding to implement Country of Origin labeling will be withheld until 2005, may take down this barrier.

Like other producers and other exporters, feeder pig exporters are also highly exposed to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar. At its height, this spring's rally in the Canadian dollar from 63¢ to nearly 75¢ shaved almost 19% off of the value of exports when the US funds were converted to Canadian dollars.
Despite these challenges, feeder pig exports remain a growing part of the Ontario Pork industry with the potential to dramatically affect the number of hogs finished in the province.