The trend of fewer producers but more hogs is holding true, according to July inventory numbers released Aug. 20 by Statistics Canada.
There were 7,035 hog producers, down one percent from July 2013, but 1.2 million sows and gilts, up almost one percent from the previous year.
Exports for the first half of 2014 totalled 2.4 million, an eight percent decrease from the first half of last year. It’s a sign that Canadian producers may be increasing their breeding herds.
Total inventory for Western Canada was 5.6 million head, up 2.8 percent from July 2013. Saskatchewan showed the biggest increase at six percent, with a July 1 total of 1.13 million.
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Manitoba is still the western leader in hog numbers with 2.9 million, up 1.7 percent from last year. Alberta has 1.47 million and British Columbia numbers, though comparatively small at 88,000, were up 2.3 percent over 2013.
Statistics Canada tallied lower sheep inventories compared to last July. The domestic flock decreased by 2.3 percent.
By type, there were one percent fewer ewes, 3.4 percent fewer replacement lambs and 3.7 percent fewer market lambs.
Western Canada saw a flock decrease of 2.8 percent compared to last year, and all western provinces saw reductions.
Alberta, with the largest flock at 201,000, declined by 1.5 percent over last year. Saskatchewan, at 123,000, showed a 2.4 percent decrease, and Manitoba, at 72,000, had a decrease of 5.3 percent over 2013.
British Columbia also had a major reduction of 5.1 percent. Its flock totals 56,000, according to Statistics Canada figures.
