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Hog inventories
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Despite high international demand for Canadian hogs and pork, Canadian hog inventories continued to decline. Prices and domestic demand have been weak while disease has affected hog production in Eastern Canada.
Farmers reported 14.1 million hogs on their farms as of April 1, 2007, according to a survey taken in March. This was down 1.5% from the fourth quarter of 2006 and 3.1% below the same date last year. Further, the first quarter data are 5.5% below the record established in July 2005.
Hog inventories in Eastern Canada as of April 1, 2007, stood at 7.9 million head, off 3.3% from the same time last year. Those in Western Canada fell 2.9% to 6.3 million head.
Hog prices continued to be soft as they have been since 2005, in part because of a stronger dollar. For example, the 2006 average price for hogs was 11.4% below the 2005 average and 18.7% 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.
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. Over the years, an increasing number of younger hogs have been exported to the United States for feeding.
Meanwhile, exports of pork meat have also climbed to record levels, rising over 50% during the past five years. The United States, at 38% of the total, was the major importer of Canadian pork in 2006 while Japan claimed 24%. 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% in 2006 compared to a year earlier. Domestic slaughter rose steadily from 1999 to 2004, reaching a record high of 22.9 million head in 2004. Since then, levels have been declining.
Note: The on-going livestock statistics will be aligned with the results of Census of Agriculture scheduled for release on May 16, 2007. The adjusted data set will be available on August 16, 2007.
Available on CANSIM: table 003-0004.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3460.
The report Hog Statistics, Vol. 6, no. 2 (23-010-XIE, free) is now available. From the Publication module of our website under Free internet publications, choose Agriculture.
For general information, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-800-465-1991). To enquire about the concepts, methods and data quality of this release, contact Yukman Cheung (613-951-9180; yukman.cheung@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.
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