Prairie pork producers have submitted applications to cull almost 35,000 sows under the federal program announced in November.
As of May 12, Alberta producers had submitted 69 applications for 13,000 animals. About 3,000 of those have yet to be slaughtered.
In Manitoba, 66 producers have submitted applications for 13,800 animals. About 5,800 are still to be slaughtered.
In Saskatchewan, 33 producers have submitted applications for 7,700 animals. About 2,000 are still to be culled.
British Columbia producers had submitted four applications, said Francois Bedard, technical affairs specialist with Canadian Pork Council.
The $50 million federal program is designed to reduce the Canadian breeding swine numbers by 10 percent in an effort to improve prices and help farmers through financially difficult times.
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The U.S. national live price average for barrows and gilts was $81.21 Sept. 17. It was $78.37 Sept. 9. U.S. hogs averaged $106.71 on a carcass basis Sept. 17, up from $106.10 Sept. 9.
More than 75,000 animals across Canada were committed to the program in the first two weeks.
“The immediate surge of applications upon launch of the program is a clear indication of the financial stress and market pressures Canadian pork producers have been struggling with,” Canadian Pork Council president Clare Schlegel said in a News release
news.
Claims received as of the beginning of May showed two thirds of the animals eligible for the program were marketed before the program launch date.
Recent assistance from several provinces will allow a significant portion of the meat from animals culled after the April 14 launch date to be donated to food banks.
Ontario producers have submitted 170 applications for 42,000 animals. About 14,000 are still to be slaughtered. Ontario has already reached its 10 percent herd reduction limit.
In Quebec, producers have submitted 55 applications for 8,100 animals. About 3,700 sows are still to be culled.
