Hog inventories

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On April 1, farmers had 11.9 million hogs on their farms, down 1.1 million or 8.6% from the same date last year.

Hog inventories have been declining for the past three years. High feed costs, soft slaughter prices, and the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling legislation in the United States have led to farm restructuring and farm closures in Canada.

There were 8,300 hog operations in Canada on April 1, about 1,000 fewer farms than the same date a year earlier, as several hundred producers took advantage of the federal government's Cull Breeding Swine Program to dispose of their breeding herd.

Hog producers exported 1.7 million hogs in the first quarter of 2009, down 42.8% from the peak reached in the first quarter of 2008.

Available on CANSIM: tables 003-0004, 003-0087 to 003-0090, 003-0092 and 003-0093.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3460.

The report Hog Statistics, first quarter 2009, Vol. 8, no. 2 (23-010-XWE, free), is now available online. From the Publications module of our website under By subject, choose Agriculture.

For more information, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-800-465-1991). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Robert Plourde (613-951-8716; robert.plourde@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.