According to the latest report from Statistics Canada, Canadian producers have begun actively developing breeding pigs, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc.
The rate of growth may be slower than in the US but they are expanding nonetheless, and this means more feeder pigs available from Canada in the next 12-18 months. The total breeding herd in Canada as of 1 July was 1.275 million head, 1.2 per cent higher than the previous year. The US breeding herd inventory on 1 June was 6.069 million head, 1.5 per cent larger than last year.
The increase in Canadian breeding hog numbers combined with steady gains in the number of pigs saved per litter has bolstered hog numbers in recent years. The pig crop during the period Jan-Jun of 2016 was 14.460 million head, 2.9 per cent higher than the previous year.
The larger pig crop so far this year has bolstered Canadian hog exports, which come for the most part to the US as feeder pigs. Exports during Jan-Jun were 2.939 million, 58,000 head (+2 per cent) higher than a year ago.
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