April 27, 2007

 

Canada's hog inventory declines to 14.12 million as of April 1

 

 

Canada's hog inventories as of April 1, 2007, totalled 14.121 million head, down from 14.576 million at the same time a year ago and the January 1 total of 14.329 million, figures released Thursday (Apr 26) by Statistics Canada showed.

 

The government agency said higher international demand for Canadian hogs and pork combined with disease in eastern Canada were linked to the lower inventories.

 

Hog inventories in eastern Canada as of April 1, 2007, totalled 7.9 million head, 3.3 percent lower than the same time a year ago. In Western Canada, hog inventories fell 2.9 percent from the year ago level to 6.3 million head.

 

Hog prices continued to be soft as they have been since 2005 due mainly to the strong Canadian dollar, Statistics Canada said. For example, the 2006 average price for hogs was 11.4 percent below the 2005 average and 18.7 percent less than 2004. More recent spikes in the price of feed grains will have an adverse impact on the bottom line of many hog producers, Statistics Canada predicted.

 

In 2006, international exports of Canadian hogs reached record levels. Producers exported 8.8 million hogs surpassing the previous record of 8.5 million head established in 2004, Statistics Canada said. Over the years, an increasing number of younger hogs have been exports to the US for feeding.

 

Meanwhile, exports of pork have also climbed to record levels, rising over 50 percent during the past five years, Statistics Canada said. The US, at 38 percent of the total, was the major importer of Canadian pork in 2006 while Japan claimed 24 percent. There are numerous countries that import pork from Canada including: Russia, South Korea, Romania, Australia, Mexico and China.

 

Hog slaughter in Canada slipped 2.4 percent in 2006 when compared to 2005. Domestic slaughter rose steadily during 1999 to 2004, reaching a record high of 22.98 million head in 2004, Statistics Canada said. Since then, levels have been declining.

 

Canada: Quarterly pigs on farm. Source: Statistics Canada

 

                           Figures in '000 head

 

                               Canada 2007/06

                 April 1, 2007 inventory        PCT

All Hogs and Pigs             14,121.0       96.9

Breeding Stock                1,612.3        98.4

Sows & Bred Gilts             1,580.4       98.5

Boars, 6 months & over       31.9          97.0

All other pigs                    12,508.7      96.7

under 20 kg                       4,526.6      102.7

20-60 kg                          3,939.3        89.5

over 60 kg                        4,042.8        97.9

 

             January 1, 2007 inventory      PCT

All Hogs and Pigs            14,329.1       97.3

Breeding Stock                1,623.9        99.0

Sows & Bred Gilts             1,591.4       99.0

Boars, 6 months & over        32.5        97.6

All other pigs                 12,705.2        97.1

under 20 kg                    4,460.2       101.9

20-60 kg                        4,197.0         94.4

over 60 kg                     4,048.0        94.9

 

                                     2006/05

             October 1, 2006 inventory      PCT

All Hogs and Pigs            14,319.4      96.0

Breeding Stock                 1,620.6      98.4

Sows & Bred Gilts              1,588.1     98.4

Boars, 6 months & over        32.5       94.8

All other pigs                 12,698.8       95.7

under 20 kg                    4,203.9        93.9

20-60 kg                         4,275.3       93.6

over 60 kg                      4,219.6        99.7

 

                July 1, 2006 inventory        PCT

All Hogs and Pigs            14,521.0       97.2

Breeding Stock                1,639.8       99.5

Sows & Bred Gilts             1,606.2       99.5

Boars, 6 months & over        33.6        97.7

All other pigs                 12,881.2        96.9

under 20 kg                    4,402.6        95.6

20-60 kg                        4,406.9         98.2

over 60-kg                     4,071.7        96.9

 

               April 1, 2006 inventory        PCT

All Hogs and Pigs             14,576.0       99.0

Breeding Stock                 1,637.9       99.3

Sows & Bred Gilts              1,605.0      99.4

Boars, 6 months & over          32.9      95.6

All other pigs                   12,938.1      98.9

under 20 kg                     4,406.8       97.4

20-60 kg                          4,402.4       99.8

over 60-kg                       4,128.9       99.7