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

CFA shows support for the Toronto Blue Jays

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is showing its support for the Toronto Blue Jays as they welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday to start the World Series. “Congratulations to the @BlueJays on last night’s big win!” the CFA said on X on Oct. 21. “Canada’s team is on fire and... Read this article online

CGC issues grain dealer license to AgroHall Foods Ltd.

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) issued a new license last week. AgroHall Foods Ltd./ Les aliments AgroHall Ltée in Regina, Sask., received a grain dealer license on Oct. 17, the CGC’s website says. The Sask. location is at 1881 Scarth St., Suite 1500, the Moose Jaw & District... Read this article online

October ag minister roundup

Monday, October 20, 2025

Farms.com is again scouring social media and online activity to see what Canada’s ministers of agriculture are doing to support farmers and the industry overall. Beginning with federal Minister Heath MacDonald, he and some of his provincial counterparts recently returned from four days of... 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