Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Pork Featured Articles

Better Pork magazine is published bimonthly. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Hogs stable

Friday, February 18, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Ontario’s hog numbers are stabilizing, says a strategist with Ontario Pork.

Patrick O’Neil says a Statistics Canada livestock report reveals modest increases in both the province’s sow and market hog numbers. Released Thursday, the report estimated livestock numbers across the country as of Jan. 1.

O’Neil says market hog supplies in Ontario are also up nearly one per cent, which was slightly higher than the 0.6 per cent increase listed for national numbers. Nationally, hog producers recorded 11.9 million hogs Jan. 1, which marked the first increase in the national numbers year-over-year since April 2006, the StatsCan report said. Ontario’s market hog numbers stood at about 2.5 million on Jan. 1.

The national sow herd stood at 1.3 million sows and gilts, a drop of 1.1 per cent from the same date a year earlier and a drop of 5.5 per cent from 2009. Ontario’s sow herd, numbering about 344,500, bucked this trend with a one per cent increase. “It looks like the Ontario sow herd may be stabilizing after decreasing at a rate that was much faster than the rest of the national average,” says O’Neil. The provincial herd has dropped nearly 21 per cent since its peak in 2004, he notes.

The industry’s stabilization “after just losing so much” is welcome for all of those involved, O’Neil says. But he warns that hog supplies could become tight in April because the number of animals weighing between 20 and 60 kilograms are down 3.9 per cent compared to a year ago. “That’s traditionally a time when hog supplies are really tight anyway, so the fact that they would be that much tighter still certainly has implications for processors,” he says.

According to the StatsCan report, the Jan. 1 national cattle inventory of 12.5 million cattle reflects a drop of 3.4 per cent from the same date a year earlier. It’s the lowest level for the month of January since 1995. The total beef cattle inventory fell 2.7 per cent although beef replacement heifer numbers increased. The dairy cow herd increased 0.6 per cent.

Nationally, the number of ewes rose 1.1 per cent nationally and replacement lamb numbers rose 7.6 per cent between Jan. 1 2010 and Jan. 1 2011. “Stronger sheep prices in 2010 were an incentive for sheep producers to retain more animals in the breeding herd and cut down on market lambs,” the report said. BF

Current Issue

October 2025

Better Pork Magazine

Farms.com Swine News

FCC Reports Trade Pressures on Canadian Food Sector

Thursday, October 9, 2025

The Canadian food and beverage manufacturing sector has experienced slower-than-expected growth in the first half of 2025, with sales and profit margins under pressure due to a challenging trade and economic environment. According to Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Food and Beverage Report... Read this article online

Canada Post strike affecting Harvest Sample Program

Thursday, October 9, 2025

The ongoing Canada Post strike is affecting farmers’ abilities to send harvest samples to the Canadian Grain Commission. Growers participating in the voluntary Harvest Sample Program, which provides free unofficial grade and quality results, will have to make other arrangements. On its... Read this article online

Gleaner T Series Combine Updates

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Gleaner continues to advance harvest technology with its new T Series combine, delivering major improvements in power, reliability, and ease of operation. Designed with the farmer in mind, the T Series focuses on performance, accessibility, and cutting-edge precision tools for... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top